Journal of internal medicine
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Review Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Questioning vitamin D status of elderly fallers and nonfallers: a meta-analysis to address a 'forgotten step'.
Previous meta-analyses to determine the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation to prevent falls in the elderly have shown mixed results. Inconsistencies might depend on the dose of supplements, suggesting that serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentration could influence the risk of falling. Our objective was to systematically review and quantitatively analyse the relationship between serum 25OHD concentration and the occurrence of falls. ⋯ Fallers have lower 25OHD concentrations, notably more often <20 ng mL(-1) , than nonfallers. These findings help to determine the profile of target populations that would most benefit from vitamin D supplements to prevent falls.