OAPs advised to take vitamin D for better balance

Published on Thursday 1 October 2009 22:18

PEOPLE aged 65 and over should take high-dose vitamin D to improve their strength and balance, researchers said yesterday.

Older people can cut their chance of falls by 19 per cent if they take 700 to 1,000IU (17.5mcg to 25mcg) of the vitamin as a daily supplement, they said.

The research, published online in the British Medical Journal, found a dose lower than 700IU per day had no effect.

Eight clinical trials on more than 2,400 people were included in the review of studies. It concluded that vitamin D2 at high doses could cut the risk of falling by 19 per cent, while taking vitamin D3 could lead to a possible 26 per cent reduction.

The vitamins began to have an effect within two to five months of starting treatment and were still effective after a year, the research found.

Previous studies have shown that vitamin D improves balance among older people, while other studies have found no significant effect on the risk of falling.

A severe deficiency of vitamin D has been shown to cause muscle pain and weakness. It is obtained naturally by sun exposure and from oily fish such as salmon and herring.