Vitamin D with Light exercise strongly prevents falling in the fragile elderly

Vitamin D with Light exercise strongly prevents falling in the fragile elderly

Researchers at the School of Comprehensive Rehabilitation,Osaka Prefecture University in Japan studied 91 elderly subjects who were fragile and institutionalized in nursing homes for a three month period. One group received counseling on falls, and was given two individualized and one group exercise class each week, and had objects that were hazards for falling removed from their living space. The second group was given the same counseling and hazard removal but received a twice a week guided exercise regimen to specifically build strength and reduce fall risk. The third group was given 900 IU of Vitamin D3 each day with food. The last group received both the 900 IU of Vitamin D3 combined with the twice a week guided exercise regimen. Vitamin D cut the incidence of falling by 43%. The twice a week exercise cut the incidence of falling by 53%. Adding the Vitamin D3 to the guided twice weekly exercise reduced the incidence of falling by 73%. The research is published online ahead of print in the International Journal of Gerontology.