Improving Vitamin D Status in Home-bound Elders

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Vitamin D Deficiency, Accidental Falls

In brief

In the past two decades, the role of vitamin D has extended beyond bone health to encompass a wide range of biological activities important to physical function in older adults. A growing body of evidence now shows that circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels \< 75 nmol/L (\< 30 ng/mL)) are associated with physical impairments such as reduced walking speed and impaired balance as well as falls. Older adults are at risk for low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D because of reduced exposure to ultraviolet B radiation, reduced efficiency of previtamin D synthesis in the skin, and low dietary intake. Although data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2000-2004 indicate that frank vitamin D deficiency (serum 25(OH)D \< 25 nmol/L \[10 ng/mL\]) is rare in the U.S. (5% or less), vitamin D insufficiency (serum 25(OH)D \< 75 nmol/L \[30 ng/mL\]) is prevalent (\~75%) among older adults. Older home-bound adults are a vulnerable subgroup of older adults for poor dietary intake and nutritional health, nutrition-related health conditions, and functional decline and disability. The primary goal of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility of a partnership with Senior Services of Forsyth County to address vitamin D insufficiency in home-bound older adults receiving home-delivered meals. A secondary goal is to obtain preliminary data on the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation on improving vitamin D levels and reducing falls.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01410084

Run by

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

People needed

68

Starts

2010-10-01

Expected to finish

2011-08-01

Last updated by the study team

2019-09-09

Who can join

Age: 65 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age ≥ 65 years old
• Forsyth County Senior Services Meals-on-Wheels recipient
• Willing to provide informed consent
• Willing to be randomized to vitamin D or active placebo control

You may not qualify if…

• Hyperparathyroidism
• Kidney stones (within the past 2 years)
• History of hypercalcemia
• On dialysis
• Inability or contraindications to consume vitamin D supplements
• Taking prescription vitamin D2 or vitamin D3-containing supplements totaling > 1000 IU/d
• Planning to move within the next 6 months

Where it is running

• Wake Forest University — Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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