Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Vitamin D in Fracture Prevention and Muscle Function and Fall Prevention

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Vitamin D

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

  • 4059 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter reviews the potential of vitamin D for the prevention of falls and fractures. Evidence from randomized-controlled trials will be reviewed for both endpoints, as well as epidemiological data that link higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] status to better bone and muscle health. The chapter addresses the evidence of fracture and fall prevention by dose of vitamin D, by type of dwelling, and by treatment duration. All data considered, this chapter summarizes the compelling dual benefit of vitamin D on fracture reduction by its bone and muscle target, a concept that is reviewed at the onset of the chapter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Cummings SR, Nevitt MC, Browner WS et al (1995) Risk factors for hip fracture in white women. Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Research Group. N Engl J Med 332(12):767–773

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2006) Fatalities and injuries from falls among older adults – United States, 1993–2003 and 2001–2005. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 55(45):1221–1224

    Google Scholar 

  3. Schwartz AV, Nevitt MC, Brown BW Jr, Kelsey JL (2005) Increased falling as a risk factor for fracture among older women: the study of osteoporotic fractures. Am J Epidemiol 161(2):180–185

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Tinetti ME (1988) Risk factors for falls among elderly persons living in the community. N Engl J Med 319:1701–1707

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Cummings SR, Nevitt MC (1994) Non-skeletal determinants of fractures: the potential importance of the mechanics of falls. Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Research Group. Osteoporos Int 4(Suppl 1):67–70

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Nguyen ND, Frost SA, Center JR, Eisman JA, Nguyen TV (2007) Development of a nomogram for individualizing hip fracture risk in men and women. Osteoporos Int 17:17

    Google Scholar 

  7. Nevitt MC, Cummings SR (1993) Type of fall and risk of hip and wrist fractures: the study of osteoporotic fractures. The Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Research Group. J Am Geriatr Soc 41(11):1226–1234

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Vellas BJ, Wayne SJ, Romero LJ, Baumgartner RN, Garry PJ (1997) Fear of falling and restriction of mobility in elderly fallers. Age Ageing 26(3):189–193

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Arfken CL, Lach HW, Birge SJ, Miller JP (1994) The prevalence and correlates of fear of falling in elderly persons living in the community. Am J Public Health 84(4):565–570

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. McClung MR, Geusens P, Miller PD et al (2001) Effect of risedronate on the risk of hip fracture in elderly women. Hip Intervention Program Study Group. N Engl J Med 344(5):333–340

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Borchers M, Gudat F, Durmuller U, Stahelin HB, Dick W (2004) Vitamin D receptor expression in human muscle tissue decreases with age. J Bone Miner Res 19(2):265–269

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Sorensen OH, Lund B, Saltin B et al (1979) Myopathy in bone loss of ageing: improvement by treatment with 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol and calcium. Clin Sci (Colch) 56(2):157–161

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Wicherts IS, van Schoor NM, Boeke AJ et al (2007) Vitamin D status predicts physical performance and its decline in older persons. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 6:6

    Google Scholar 

  14. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Dietrich T, Orav EJ et al (2004) Higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are associated with better lower-extremity function in both active and inactive persons aged >=60 y. Am J Clin Nutr 80(3):752–758

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Bischoff HA, Stahelin HB, Dick W et al (2003) Effects of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on falls: a randomized controlled trial. J Bone Miner Res 18(2):343–351

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Pfeifer M, Begerow B, Minne HW, Suppan K, Fahrleitner-Pammer A, Dobnig H (2008) Effects of a long-term vitamin D and calcium supplementation on falls and parameters of muscle function in community-dwelling older individuals. Osteoporos Int 16:16

    Google Scholar 

  17. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Orav EJ, Dawson-Hughes B (2006) Effect of cholecalciferol plus calcium on falling in ambulatory older men and women: a 3-year randomized controlled trial. Arch Intern Med 166(4):424–430

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Pfeifer M, Begerow B, Minne HW, Abrams C, Nachtigall D, Hansen C (2000) Effects of a short-term vitamin D and calcium supplementation on body sway and secondary hyperparathyroidism in elderly women. J Bone Miner Res 15(6):1113–1118

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Broe KE, Chen TC, Weinberg J, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Holick MF, Kiel DP (2007) A higher dose of vitamin d reduces the risk of falls in nursing home residents: a randomized, multiple-dose study. J Am Geriatr Soc 55(2):234–239

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Glerup H, Mikkelsen K, Poulsen L et al (2000) Hypovitaminosis D myopathy without biochemical signs of osteomalacic bone involvement. Calcif Tissue Int 66(6):419–424

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Bouillon R, Bischoff-Ferrari H, Willett W (2008) Vitamin D and Health: perspectives from Mice and Man. J Bone Miner Res 28:28

    Google Scholar 

  22. Endo I, Inoue D, Mitsui T et al (2003) Deletion of vitamin D receptor gene in mice results in abnormal skeletal muscle development with deregulated expression of myoregulatory transcription factors. Endocrinology 144(12):5138–5144, E-pub 2003 Aug 13

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Visser M, Deeg DJ, Lips P (2003) Low vitamin D and high parathyroid hormone levels as determinants of loss of muscle strength and muscle mass (sarcopenia): the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 88(12):5766–5772

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Schott GD, Wills MR (1976) Muscle weakness in osteomalacia. Lancet 1(7960):626–629

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Boland R (1986) Role of vitamin D in skeletal muscle function. Endocrine Rev 7:434–447

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Dawson-Hughes B, Willett CW et al (2004) Effect of vitamin D on falls: a meta-analysis. JAMA 291(16):1999–2006

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Graafmans WC, Ooms ME, Hofstee HM, Bezemer PD, Bouter LM, Lips P (1996) Falls in the elderly: a prospective study of risk factors and risk profiles. Am J Epidemiol 143(11):1129–1136

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Flicker L, MacInnis RJ, Stein MS et al (2005) Should older people in residential care receive vitamin D to prevent falls? Results of a randomized trial. J Am Geriatr Soc 53(11):1881–1888

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Prince RL, Austin N, Devine A, Dick IM, Bruce D, Zhu K (2008) Effects of ergocalciferol added to calcium on the risk of falls in elderly high-risk women. Arch Intern Med 168(1):103–108

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Dawson-Hughes B, Staehelin HB et al (2009) Fall prevention with supplemental and alpha-hydroxylated vitamin D: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMJ Oct 1;339:b3692. doi:10.1136/bmj.b3692

    Google Scholar 

  31. Chapuy MC, Arlot ME, Duboeuf F et al (1992) Vitamin D3 and calcium to prevent hip fractures in the elderly women. N Engl J Med 327(23):1637–1642

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Dietrich T, Orav EJ, Dawson-Hughes B (2004) Positive association between 25-hydroxy vitamin d levels and bone mineral density: a population-based study of younger and older adults. Am J Med 116(9):634–639

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Willett WC, Wong JB, Giovannucci E, Dietrich T, Dawson-Hughes B (2005) Fracture prevention with vitamin D supplementation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. JAMA 293(18):2257–2264

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Porthouse J, Cockayne S, King C et al (2005) Randomised controlled trial of calcium and supplementation with cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) for prevention of fractures in primary care. BMJ 330(7498):1003

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Grant AM, Avenell A, Campbell MK et al (2005) Oral vitamin D3 and calcium for secondary prevention of low-trauma fractures in elderly people (Randomised Evaluation of Calcium Or vitamin D, RECORD): a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 365(9471):1621–1628

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Jackson RD, LaCroix AZ, Gass M et al (2006) Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and the risk of fractures. N Engl J Med 354(7):669–683

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Lyons RA, Johansen A, Brophy S et al (2007) Preventing fractures among older people living in institutional care: a pragmatic randomised double blind placebo controlled trial of vitamin D supplementation. Osteoporos Int 18(6):811–818

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Cranny A, Horsley T, O’Donnell S et al: Effectiveness and safety of vitamin D in relation to bone health. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/tp/vitadtp.htm. 2007

  39. Boonen S, Lips P, Bouillon R, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Vanderschueren D, Haentjens P (2007) Need for additional calcium to reduce the risk of hip fracture with vitamin D supplementation: evidence from a comparative meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 30:30

    Google Scholar 

  40. Tang BM, Eslick GD, Nowson C, Smith C, Bensoussan A (2007) Use of calcium or calcium in combination with vitamin D supplementation to prevent fractures and bone loss in people aged 50 years and older: a meta-analysis. Lancet 370(9588):657–666

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Dawson-Hughes B, Baron JA et al (2007) Calcium intake and hip fracture risk in men and women: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials. Am J Clin Nutr 86(6):1780–1790

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Armas LA, Hollis BW, Heaney RP (2004) Vitamin D2 is much less effective than vitamin D3 in humans. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 89(11):5387–5391

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Houghton LA, Vieth R (2006) The case against ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) as a vitamin supplement. Am J Clin Nutr 84(4):694–697

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Willett WC, Wong JB et al (2009) Prevention of nonvertebral fractures with oral vitamin D and dose dependency: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern Med 169:551–561

    Google Scholar 

  45. Dawson-Hughes B, Harris SS, Krall EA, Dallal GE (1997) Effect of calcium and vitamin D supplementation on bone density in men and women 65 years of age or older. N Engl J Med 337(10):670–676

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Visser M, Deeg DJ, Puts MT, Seidell JC, Lips P (2006) Low serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in older persons and the risk of nursing home admission. Am J Clin Nutr 84(3):616–622, quiz 671–672

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre on Aging and Mobility, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Heike Bischoff-Ferrari MD, DRPH

Authors
  1. Heike Bischoff-Ferrari MD, DRPH
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. East Newton St. 85, Boston, 02118, Massachusetts, USA

    Michael F. Holick

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bischoff-Ferrari, H. (2010). Vitamin D in Fracture Prevention and Muscle Function and Fall Prevention. In: Holick, M. (eds) Vitamin D. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-303-9_35

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-303-9_35

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60327-300-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60327-303-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation