Vitamin D May Lower Nursing Home Falls

Giving residents of nursing homes vitamin D may help reduce the number of falls, according to researchers.

A study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that seniors taking a high daily dose of vitamin D experienced 72 percent fewer falls, compared to those taking a placebo.

A news release said that approximately 50 percent of nursing home residents fall every year, and those who are injured become even more prone to future falls.

Researchers found, however, that the 800 International Unit dose needed to see the benefit is higher than usually prescribed.

The authors noted that further research on the subject is required to accurately determine vitamin D's effect on other health conditions.