Impact of Vitamin D and Calcium on Falls and Fractures in Older Adults.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this review is to explore the evidence linking both low and high circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] to risk of falls and/or fractures in older adults. The important role of calcium intake in this context is also described.

METHODS

The quality of evidence, related to participant characteristics, methods of fall and fracture assessments, biomarker assays employed, and other factors are considered.

RESULTS

There is growing evidence that both low intakes of vitamin D and calcium and excess intake of vitamin D have untoward effects of risk of falls and fractures. From available data, the 25(OH)D range of 20 to 40 ng/ml appears to be associated with minimal risk of falls and fractures.

CONCLUSION

Verification of the 25(OH)D range that currently appears to minimize the risk of falls and fractures, 20 to 40 ng/ml, is important, because it will have obvious implications for devising optimal supplementation strategies in large parts of the global population that is dually deficient in calcium and vitamin D.