@article{ref1,
title="Design features of randomized clinical trials of vitamin D and falls: a systematic review",
journal="Nutrients",
year="2018",
author="Tang, Olive and Juraschek, Stephen P. and Appel, Lawrence J.",
volume="10",
number="8",
pages="e10080964-e10080964",
abstract="Recent guidelines have advocated against the use of vitamin D supplementation as a means to prevent falls in older adults. However, meta-analyses of the available trials have reached divergent conclusions, and the key design features of these trials have not been well characterized. We conducted a systematic review of 30 randomized trials that reported the effects of vitamin D supplements on falls. Trials were identified by reviewing references of published meta-analyses and updated with a systematic PubMed search. We assessed three key design features: (1) recruitment of participants with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency; (2) provision of daily oral vitamin D supplementation; and (3) utilization of highly sensitive at-event falls ascertainment. The trials enrolled a median of 337 (IQR: 170-1864) participants. Four (13.3%) trials restricted enrollment to those who were at least vitamin D insufficient, 18 (60.0%) included at least one arm providing daily supplementation, and 16 (53.3%) used at-event reporting. There was substantial heterogeneity between trials, and no single trial incorporated all three key design features. Rather than concluding that vitamin D is ineffective as a means to prevent falls, these findings suggest that existing trial evidence is insufficient to guide recommendations on the use of vitamin D supplements to prevent falls.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2072-6643",
doi="10.3390/nu10080964",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu10080964"
}