USPSTF Draft Statement: Vitamin D Supplements No Longer Recommended to Prevent Falls in Seniors

By Kelly Young

Edited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Lorenzo Di Francesco, MD, FACP, FHM

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is recommending against vitamin D supplementation to prevent falls in community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older (grade D recommendation). The draft statement is a change from its 2012 recommendation in favor of supplementation.

In a new analysis, the group found evidence that vitamin D supplementation did not reduce fall risk in patients who were not vitamin D deficient.

The USPSTF continues to recommend exercise to reduce the risk for falls in community-dwelling elders (grade B), and multifactorial interventions may be offered to high-risk seniors (grade C).

In a separate draft recommendation statement, the task force maintained its 2013 position on vitamin D and calcium supplementation to prevent fractures in men and premenopausal women. There is still not enough evidence to recommend for or against the practice (grade I).

The group again recommends against postmenopausal women taking 400 IU or less of vitamin D and 1000 mg or less of calcium daily because there's no effect on fracture prevention (grade D). There was less certainty about higher doses (grade I).