@article{ref1,
title="Vitamin D and falls in older African American women: the PODA Randomized Clinical Trial",
journal="Journal of the American Geriatrics Society",
year="2019",
author="Aloia, John F. and Rubinova, Rakhil and Fazzari, Melissa and Islam, Shahidul and Mikhail, Mageda and Ragolia, Louis",
volume="67",
number="5",
pages="1043-1049",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Limited information is available on the influence of vitamin D on falls in older high-functioning black American women. Endocrine Society guidelines propose serum 25(OH)D levels over 30 ng/mL. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: To determine if maintenance of serum 25(OH)D above 30 ng/mL protects against falls. <br><br>DESIGN: The Physical Performance, Osteoporosis and Vitamin D in African American Women (PODA) trial had a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-dummy design with two arms: one with placebo and one with vitamin D<sub>3</sub> adjusted to maintain serum 25(OH)D above 30 ng/mL. The primary outcomes were the prevention of bone loss and the decline in physical performance. PATIENTS: The target population was healthy black women older than 60 years with serum 25(OH)D between 8 and 26 ng/mL. The trial was 3 years in duration with a falls questionnaire administered every 3 months. A total of 260 women entered the study, and 184 completed the 3 years. Mean age was 68.2 years. SETTING: Research center in an academic health center. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURE: Prevention of falls. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned to placebo or active vitamin D. Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> dose was adjusted to maintain serum 25(OH)D above 30 ng/mL in the active group using a double-dummy design. <br><br>RESULTS: Baseline 25(OH)D was 22 ng/mL. Mean serum 25(OH)D reached 47 ng/mL in the active group compared with 21 ng/mL in the placebo group. There were 14.2% falls in the previous year recalled at baseline. During the study, 46% reported falling in the treatment group compared with 47% in the placebo group. There was no association of serum 25(OH)D or vitamin D dose with the risk of falling. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: There is no benefit of maintaining serum 25(OH)D above 30 ng/mL compared with the Institute of Medicine recommendation (20 ng/mL) in preventing falls in healthy older black American women.<br><br>© 2019 The American Geriatrics Society.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0002-8614",
doi="10.1111/jgs.15760",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15760"
}