High Doses of Vitamin D Linked to Increased Risk of Falls.

According to new research in JAMA Internal Medicine, relatively high doses of vitamin D may increase the risk of falls. The study—designed to determine whether doses of vitamin D that achieved blood concentrations of 30 ng/mL improve strength and balance—comprised 200 men and women (age 70 and older) who were living at home with reasonably good cognition and mobility, but had a prior fall. More than one half of participants had vitamin D concentrations <20 ng/mL, which is considered deficient. Two doses (i.e., 60,000 immunizing units [IUs] of vitamin D3 monthly or 24,000 IUs of vitamin D3 plus 300 μg of calcifediol monthly, equivalent to ~2,000 IUs daily)