Taking more vitamin D may significantly reduce the risk of fractures, according to recent studies.

The RDA of vitamin D for older adults may need to be raised from 400-600 IU to 700-800 IU, based on studies led by Bess Dawson-Hughes, MD, director of the Bone Metabolism Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition and Research Center on Aging at Tufts University.

May Improve Muscle Strength

Dawson-Hughes and colleagues analyzed the results of seven experimental trials that compared fracture rates among people aged 60 years and older. Each study lasted between one and five years, and looked specifically at hip and other limb fractures.

Test subjects were divided into groups that received vitamin D with calcium, vitamin D without calcium, only calcium, or placebo. Groups receiving higher doses of vitamin D had twenty-five percent fewer fractures than comparison groups, the researchers found.

The reduction in fractures may not be simply due to stronger bones.

"Vitamin D may also improve muscle strength, thereby reducing fracture risk through fall prevention," Dawson-Hughes notes.

Role of Calcium

"We also need to look more closely at the possible role that calcium supplementation may have in mediating the effects of vitamin D," she adds.

"Fractures in the elderly can lead to severe health consequences, including death. One promising prevention strategy may be dietary supplementation with both calcium and vitamin D."

Due to the fact that people are living longer, experts predict that bone fractures will become a major problem unless more is done to prevent them.