Vitamin D Supplementation for the Prevention of Falls and Fractures in Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities: A 2021 Update

Key Message

The relevant publications identified comprised 1 overview of systematic reviews and 2 systematic reviews. There is a suggestion that for seniors living in long-term care facilities, compared to control, vitamin D supplementation, with or without calcium, may reduce the rate of falls and fractures; however, the reductions were not always statistically significant.There were no statistically significant differences in the number of seniors who fell with vitamin D supplementation, with or without calcium, compared with control groups. Findings need to be interpreted with caution, considering the limitations such as primary studies of variable quality (critically low to moderate) and lack of clarity with respect to the type of long-term care setting.No cost-effectiveness studies regarding vitamin D supplementation for the prevention of falls and fractures in elderly patients residing in long-term care facilities were identified. No evidence-based guidelines regarding vitamin D supplementation for the prevention of falls and fractures in elderly patients residing in long-term care facilities were identified.