Prevention of falls and fractures in old people by administration of calcium and vitamin D, randomized clinical trial.

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc in this randomized controlled trial publication.

There are many studies that associate vitamin D serum levels in older persons with muscle strength, physical performance and risk of fractures and falls.

However, current evidence is insufficient to make a general recommendation for administrating calcium and vitamin D to older persons.

Who Took Part

The age groups tagged for this paper are older adults, both men and women.

The secondary variables will include: consequences of the falls (fractures, need for hospitalization), change in calcidiol plasma levels and other analytical determinations (transaminases, PTH, calcium/phosphorous, albumin, creatinine, etc.), change in bone mass by densitometry, change in muscle strength in the dominant hand and change in musculoskeletal strength, risk factors for falls, treatment compliance, adverse effects and socio-demographic data.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study.

The participants were allocated by chance, so the Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc group and the comparison group should start out alike.

Blinding on both sides kept the participants and researchers unaware of who received Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc.

A placebo (an inactive look-alike) gave the Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc group a baseline to be compared against.

It will be performed at Primary Care doctor visits at several Healthcare Centers in different Spanish Health Areas.

The control group will receive a placebo.

The primary variable will be the incidence of spontaneous falls.

What Was Measured

There are many studies that associate vitamin D serum levels in older persons with muscle strength, physical performance and risk of fractures and falls.

The subject headings attached to it are Accidental Falls, Bone Density Conservation Agents, Calcium, Dietary Supplements, Fractures, Bone, Muscle Strength and Office Visits.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc.

Its findings take up roughly 1 sentences of the abstract and are left out here on purpose; the source paper is the place to read them.

The publication is from 2011 (BMC public health), a journal based in England.

More context: the Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc compound page, all human trials.