Vitamin D Administration in the Nursing Home

Intermittent Vitamin D Administration in the Nursing Home: Impact on Vitamin D Status, Falls, Bone Turnover and Bone Density

Administration of vitamin D 50,000 units once monthly will:

• Maintain serum 25-OH vitamin D above 20 ng/ml
• Reduce falls
• Increase calcaneal BMD
• Reduce bone turnover
• Be well tolerated: volunteers will not develop hypercalcemia
• Improve performance on a swallowing quality of life questionnaire

1. Research questions: We propose a prospective double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of once-monthly vitamin D oral capsules (50,000 units) in nursing-home residents.

Subjects from several Wisconsin nursing homes were randomized to receive once-monthly vitamin D oral capsules (50,000 units) or placebo. Blood levels of 25-OH D, parathyroid hormone, serum calcium, and a marker of bone turnover will be measured periodically by standard lab assays. Swallowing quality of life was measured by questionnaire. Appropriate statistical tests (paired T tests, 95% confidence intervals will be calculated with the large sample approximation for binomial variables, other).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or Female
• Nursing Home Resident in Wisconsin

Exclusion Criteria:

• Renal Failure
• Hypercalcemia
• Metastatic Cancer