Popular vitamin won’t prevent a fall or fracture in older adults, health panel says. Here’s what can help

Vitamin D and calcium are essential for overall health, but don’t reduce the risk of falls or fractures in generally healthy older adults, according to a new draft recommendation from the US Preventive Services Task Force.

Vitamin D and calcium are essential for overall health, but don’t reduce the risk of falls or fractures in generally healthy older adults, according to a new draft recommendation from the US Preventive Services Task Force. When it comes to preventing the risk of a fall or fractures in older adults, the task force recommends against relying on supplemental vitamin D and calcium – and, for the first time, men are included in this guidance. Older adults may still need to take vitamin D or calcium for overall health but should take different steps to protect from fractures or reduce the risk of falling. In 2018, the task force recommended against daily supplementation with 400 units or less of vitamin D and 1,000 milligrams or less of calcium for the primary prevention of fractures in postmenopausal women. But it concluded there has not been enough evidence to make a recommendation for the primary prevention of fractures in men. The task force’s draft recommendation would update the current guidance to include recommending against supplementation in men ages 60 or older and it would remove mention of specific doses. The draft recommendation is not yet final, but will be available on the task force’s website for public comment through January 21, along with a draft evidence review. “When we did the 2018 recommendation, we did not have a sufficient number of male participants in the studies of fractures and falls with vitamin D. Since that time, there’s been enough to at least draw some conclusions, and we’ve drawn the same conclusion – it’s not helpful in terms of prevention,” said task force member Dr. Goutham Rao, chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and chief clinician experience officer for the University Hospitals Health System in Cleveland, Ohio.