(May 11, 2010 - Insidermedicine)

Elderly women who take a very high dose of vitamin D may actually be at increases risk for falls and fractures, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Here is some information about vitamin D:

•    It is a vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods

•    It can be produced by the body only upon exposure to sunlight, making deficiencies more common in autumn and winter

•    It is involved in regulating calcium metabolism and is thus important for bone health

Researchers from the University of Melbourne randomly assigned over 2,000 women aged 70 and older who were considered to be at high risk for falls and fractures to receive 500,000 IU of vitamin D3 or a placebo. The women took the supplements once yearly as an  oral dose during the fall and winter months for three to five years.

Among those taking the supplements, the risk of falling was increased by 15% and the risk of having a fracture was increased by 26%, compared with those taking a placebo. The risk of falling was particularly high during the first three months of treatment and tapered off thereafter.

Today’s research suggests that the safety of very high doses of vitamin D3 requires further study.