Stunt
doubles in the motion picture industry make a living out of
falling off buildings, out of windows -- you name it. For
the elderly, however, a fall isn't something you see in the
movies; it's a serious matter with serious consequences. Previous
research indicates that up to one-third of all people age
65 and older - and up to half of those over age 80 - suffer
injuries from falls.
Researchers examined the role vitamin D plays in reducing
the risk of falls in the elderly. The analysis reviewed five
studies involving more than 1,200 patients in which patients
took a certain amount of vitamin D per day, usually with calcium.
After adjusting for study differences, researchers concluded
that vitamin D intake reduced the odds of falling by 22 percent,
compared with patients who received either calcium or placebo.
Patients who took higher doses of vitamin D (700 to 800 international
units daily) seemed to fare better than patients receiving
400 IU per day. In at least one study, vitamin D appeared
to reduce the risk of falls.
Talk to your doctor of chiropractic about other forms of
nutritional and structural support for your bones and muscles,
and how to maintain a healthy musculoskeletal system.
To learn more about the benefits of chiropractic, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/whatis.html.
Reference:
Bischoff-Ferrari H, Dawson-Hughes B, Willett W, et al. Effect
of vitamin D on falls. A meta-analysis. Journal of the
American Medical Association, April 28, 2004;291:1999-2006.
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