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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #427162
Research Project: Diet Quality and Physical Activity for Healthy Aging and Chronic Disease Mitigation

Location: Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging

Title: Impact of vitamin D and calcium on falls and fractures in older adults

Author
item DAWSON-HUGHES, BESS - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University

Submitted to: Endocrine Practice
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/8/2025
Publication Date: 8/5/2025
Citation: Dawson-Hughes, B. 2025. Impact of vitamin D and calcium on falls and fractures in older adults. Endocrine Practice. Volume 31, Issue 11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eprac.2025.07.007.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eprac.2025.07.007

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The role of vitamin D and calcium in bone and muscle health has been studied extensively, and yet a clear, science-based approach to repletion that will minimize risk of falling and risk of fractures is still elusive. This paper is not a systematic review by rather a discussion of selected clinical studies that have laid the evidence trail for prevention of falls and fractures. It is important to identify the combination of calcium intake and vitamin D status that is optimal for older adults. In this review, I refer to the Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine) classification of 25(OH)D levels as: deficient <12 ng/ml; insufficient 12 to 20 ng/ml, and replete = 20 ng/ml.