High-dose vitamin D prevents fractures in elderly

A latest study funded by the Swiss National Foundation and others claim that regular intake of Vitamin D proves to be beneficial as it reduces the risk of hip and other bone fractures,

The study published Wednesday in New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) suggests that nearly 800 international units (IU) daily of Vitamin D may help reduce the risk of fractures. The researchers observed that nearly 75 percent of fractures occur in people who belong to age group of 65 and older. By 2050, the worldwide incidence of hip fractures is expected to escalate by 240 percent among women, while the number would still be high in case of men with 310 percent.

According to sources, Dr. Heike Bischoff-Ferrari of University Hospital Zurich in Switzerland said, "These hip fractures cost a lot and are a really serious event. They are usually the end of independent life for a senior person; 50 percent do not regain their mobility. Reducing the risk by 30 percent with just a vitamin supplement would be an enormous public health opportunity."

The researchers pooled participants- level data from 11 double-blind, randomized controlled trails of oral vitamin D supplementation daily, weekly or every 4 months, with or without calcium as compared to placebo or calcium alone in person 6 years of age or older.   Primary end points were the incidence of hip and any nonvertebral fractures according to Cox regression analyses, with adjustment for age group, sex, type of dwelling, and study.  They included 31,022 people - their average age was 76 and 91 per cent of the total were women - with 1,111 hip fractures (four per cent of participants) and 3,770 non-vertebral fractures (12 per cent).

On conducting this study, the researchers concluded that "high dose of Vitamin D supplementation that is more than 800 IU daily was favourable in preventing hip fracture and any non vertebral fracture in 6 years of age or older.

The Institute of Medicine recommends that most adults get 1,000 to 1,200 mg of calcium per day and 600 to 800 IU of vitamin D. It sets a recommended upper limit at 2,000 mg of calcium and 4,000 IU of vitamin D.

Vitamin D did not drop the rate of hip fracture drastically, and the decline in other fractures was minor. When the researchers looked at people getting the highest doses of the vitamin, typically 800 IU daily, the benefits were clearer, with a 30-percent drop in hip fractures and 14-percent decline in other broken bones.

Bischoff-Ferrari said, "In the medical world, vitamin D seems like a very low priority. It may be the lack of lobbying for it, the fact that it costs almost nothing. But the data are impressive."