Effects of vitamin D supplementation on strength, physical performance, and falls in older persons: a systematic...

identify, appraise, and synthesize data from randomized, controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation in older people.

A systematic review of trials identified from searches of databases, reference lists, review articles, and recent conference proceedings.

Most studies performed in ambulatory setting.

Older people (mean age=60).

Vitamin D or vitamin D metabolites.

Strength, physical performance, or falls.

Thirteen trials involving 2,496 patients met this study's inclusion criteria. Most of the trials were small and had methodological problems. In 10 trials, there was no evidence that vitamin D or vitamin D metabolites had an effect on falls or physical function, but three trials showed a positive effect of vitamin D in combination with calcium. When available data from the four highest quality trials were pooled (n=1,317), there continued to be no evidence that vitamin D reduced the risk of falling (relative risk= 0.99, 95% confidence interval=0.89-1.11), although a single trial of vitamin D and calcium showed a positive effect.

Although there is insufficient evidence that vitamin D supplementation alone improves physical performance in older people, some data suggest a benefit from vitamin D combined with calcium supplementation, but this requires confirmation in large, well-designed trials.