Have any supplements been studied for fall prevention?

    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    Supplements for fall prevention are usually targeted at managing conditions that increase the risk for fracture or other acute conditions during a fall. For example, vitamin D and calcium have been studied for preventing fall-related injuries, as these nutrients help to stave off osteoporosis.[1] However, some evidence suggests that high-dose vitamin D may actually be associated with an increased risk of falls when compared to lower doses, although it’s not clear why that would be the case.[2][3].

    References

    1. ^Stevens JA, Phelan EADevelopment of STEADI: a fall prevention resource for health care providers.Health Promot Pract.(2013-Sep)
    2. ^Lawrence J Appel, Erin D Michos, Christine M Mitchell, Amanda L Blackford, Alice L Sternberg, Edgar R Miller 3rd, Stephen P Juraschek, Jennifer A Schrack, Sarah L Szanton, Jeanne Charleston, Melissa Minotti, Sheriza N Baksh, Robert H Christenson, Josef Coresh, Lea T Drye, Jack M Guralnik, Rita R Kalyani, Timothy B Plante, David M Shade, David L Roth, James Tonascia, STURDY Collaborative Research GroupThe Effects of Four Doses of Vitamin D Supplements on Falls in Older Adults : A Response-Adaptive, Randomized Clinical TrialAnn Intern Med.(2021 Feb)
    3. ^Zittermann A, Trummer C, Theiler-Schwetz V, Pilz SLong-term supplementation with 3200 to 4000 IU of vitamin D daily and adverse events: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Eur J Nutr.(2023-Jun)