Calcium, Vitamin D Supplements Won't Prevent Falls and Fractures, Health Panel Says

The majority of older adults shouldn’t rely on calcium and vitamin D supplements to prevent falls and fractures, according to a national panel of health experts. Doing so could lead to more harms than benefits, such as an increased risk of kidney stones.   

Both calcium and vitamin D — a nutrient that helps your body absorb calcium — are essential for building strong and healthy bones. However, in supplement form, there’s little evidence to suggest they can help older adults, including women who have gone through menopause and men 60-plus, avoid falling and breaking a bone, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) said in a draft recommendation issued Dec. 17.

Falls are the top cause of injury in older adults. They can lead to broken bones, which can impact a person’s independence and quality of life. They can also have more serious consequences, including death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 39,000 adults age 65 and older died from a fall in 2021— that’s roughly 100 fall-related deaths per day.  

The risk of falls and fractures rises with age, due to a number of factors, including worsening hearing and vision, and diseases and medications that can affect balance, the National Institute on Aging explains.

“Preventing older adults from falling and breaking a bone is important to their ongoing health and independence,” task force member John M. Ruiz, a professor of clinical psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Arizona, said in a statement. “Unfortunately, when we reviewed the latest evidence, we found that taking vitamin D with or without calcium does not prevent falls or fractures in older adults, so we recommend against these supplements for people who are not taking them for other medical reasons.”

The group’s draft recommendation applies to people who live at home, not those living in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. It also doesn’t apply to people who are taking vitamin D or calcium for other medical reasons, or who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, vitamin D deficiency, or another medical condition that affects how they absorb vitamin D.

According to a federal survey, calcium and vitamin D are two of the most commonly used supplements among older adults. 

How you can prevent falls and fractures

The good news, says task force member Goutham Rao, M.D., chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University Hospitals Health System, is there are ways for adults to maintain good bone health as they age.

“The task force recommends other effective preventive services related to falls and fractures, including screening for osteoporosis in women and structured exercise programs to prevent falls in older adults who are at increased risk of falling," Rao said in a statement. 

Women 65 and older should get screened for osteoporosis; screening is recommended sooner for some women with certain risk factors.