Vitamin D May Reduce Falls In Elderly Nursing Home Residents

Summary: 800 International Units (IU) per day of Vitamin D reduced falls by 72%, compared to the placebo group.

The depressingly staggering (yes, pun) statistic from the article is that 50% of nursing home residents fall every year, and once they are weakened, they are even more at risk of further injury.

"Past studies have shown that vitamin D could help prevent falls in seniors, and may be due to a possible strengthening effect the vitamin has on the musculoskeletal system."

Since vitamin D is the only vitamin the body is capable of producing on its own (with exposure to sunlight), I wonder how much of these nursing home residents get any real sun?


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/02/070222160028.htm