Abstract
Falls are a major health problem in elderly individuals. Although intensive physical therapy and management of hazards in the home can reduce falls by 25%, long-term practicality limits their use. Interest in vitamin D as a medical therapy has led to many trials; however, results using daily oral doses of vitamin D have been inconsistent. In the past 5 years, studies on the effect of bolus doses of vitamin D have produced surprising results. Bolus doses of vitamin D, given annually (at a dose of 300,000 IU or 500,000 IU) or monthly (at a dose of 24,000 IU or 60,000 IU) — equivalent to approximate daily doses of 800 IU, 1400 IU and 2,000 IU — result in a significant increase in the number of falls and fractures associated with serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D greater than 40–45 ng/ml (equivalent to 100–112 nmol/l). These unexpected results show increased falls and fractures are adverse events related to vitamin D administration. Until further safety data is available, bolus dosing or daily doses should not exceed 3,000 IU and serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D should not exceed 40–45 ng/ml (equivalent to 100–112 nmol/l) in elderly individuals.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Nature Reviews Endocrinology |
| DOIs | |
| State | Accepted/In press - Aug 5 2016 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Endocrinology
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Cite this
Vitamin D and falls — the dosage conundrum. / Gallagher, John Christopher G.
In: Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 05.08.2016.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Vitamin D and falls — the dosage conundrum
AU - Gallagher, John Christopher G.
PY - 2016/8/5
Y1 - 2016/8/5
N2 - Falls are a major health problem in elderly individuals. Although intensive physical therapy and management of hazards in the home can reduce falls by 25%, long-term practicality limits their use. Interest in vitamin D as a medical therapy has led to many trials; however, results using daily oral doses of vitamin D have been inconsistent. In the past 5 years, studies on the effect of bolus doses of vitamin D have produced surprising results. Bolus doses of vitamin D, given annually (at a dose of 300,000 IU or 500,000 IU) or monthly (at a dose of 24,000 IU or 60,000 IU) — equivalent to approximate daily doses of 800 IU, 1400 IU and 2,000 IU — result in a significant increase in the number of falls and fractures associated with serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D greater than 40–45 ng/ml (equivalent to 100–112 nmol/l). These unexpected results show increased falls and fractures are adverse events related to vitamin D administration. Until further safety data is available, bolus dosing or daily doses should not exceed 3,000 IU and serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D should not exceed 40–45 ng/ml (equivalent to 100–112 nmol/l) in elderly individuals.
AB - Falls are a major health problem in elderly individuals. Although intensive physical therapy and management of hazards in the home can reduce falls by 25%, long-term practicality limits their use. Interest in vitamin D as a medical therapy has led to many trials; however, results using daily oral doses of vitamin D have been inconsistent. In the past 5 years, studies on the effect of bolus doses of vitamin D have produced surprising results. Bolus doses of vitamin D, given annually (at a dose of 300,000 IU or 500,000 IU) or monthly (at a dose of 24,000 IU or 60,000 IU) — equivalent to approximate daily doses of 800 IU, 1400 IU and 2,000 IU — result in a significant increase in the number of falls and fractures associated with serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D greater than 40–45 ng/ml (equivalent to 100–112 nmol/l). These unexpected results show increased falls and fractures are adverse events related to vitamin D administration. Until further safety data is available, bolus dosing or daily doses should not exceed 3,000 IU and serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D should not exceed 40–45 ng/ml (equivalent to 100–112 nmol/l) in elderly individuals.
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U2 - 10.1038/nrendo.2016.123
DO - 10.1038/nrendo.2016.123
M3 - Article
JO - Nature Reviews Endocrinology
JF - Nature Reviews Endocrinology
SN - 1759-5029
ER -