Condition

Fall Prevention

Falls happen when balance, muscle strength, vision, or footing fails, and weak muscles and fragile bones in older adults make injuries more likely. Vitamin D is among the supplements with the strongest evidence, and pooled trials covering about 2,400 people found fall risk improved, with a moderate-sized effect. Results mostly apply to older adults, including nursing home residents, especially those low in vitamin D.

Sources: PMID 19797342; PMID 17302660

Supplements studied: 1
Graded outcomes: 1
Trials: 3
People studied: 3,875

Evidence by supplement

Strong
Moderate
Limited
Very limited

1 supplement

Vitamin D

Vitamin D: outcomes studied for Fall Prevention
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Fall Risk Moderate Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Moderate effect	3 studies	2,426 people
Studies that measured fall risk Fall prevention with supplemental and active forms of vitamin D: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trialsBMJ · PMID 19797342 A higher dose of vitamin d reduces the risk of falls in nursing home residents: a randomized, multiple-dose studyJ Am Geriatr Soc · PMID 17302660 The Relationship of Falls With Achieved 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels From Vitamin D Supplementation: The STURDY Trial.J Endocr Soc · PMID 35592513
	Functionality in Elderly or Injured	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	688 people
Studies that measured functionality in elderly or injured Effects of Vitamin D on Physical Function: Results From the STURDY Trial.J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci · PMID 34928336

Key findings

Fall RiskVitamin DImproves (the measure goes down)

The Fall Prevention Support protocol

2 primary supplements · 3 supporting supplements

Vitamin D800–2,000 IU daily (higher if deficient)
Calcium1,000–1,200 mg daily (food + supplements)

See the full protocol

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Studies cited

4 studies from PubMed

Effects of Vitamin D on Physical Function: Results From the STURDY Trial.J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci · PMID 34928336
The Relationship of Falls With Achieved 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels From Vitamin D Supplementation: The STURDY Trial.J Endocr Soc · PMID 35592513
A higher dose of vitamin d reduces the risk of falls in nursing home residents: a randomized, multiple-dose studyJ Am Geriatr Soc · PMID 17302660
Fall prevention with supplemental and active forms of vitamin D: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trialsBMJ · PMID 19797342