Ling Y, Xu F, Xia X, et al. - Old adults who received combined supplementation of vitamin D and calcium experienced the beneficial effects of this intervention on prevention of falls in them.

• This updated systematic review and meta-analysis included relevant randomized clinical trials (RCTs) from several literature databases.

• There were 21 RCTs of vitamin D alone and 10 RCTs of vitamin D plus calcium analyzed in the meta-analysis.

• No reduction in the risk of falls was achieved with vitamin D supplementation alone (daily or intermittent doses of 400-60 000 IU) (risk ratios [RR] 1.00) vs placebo or no treatment.

• A 12% decrease in the risk of fall was conferred by combined supplementation of vitamin D (daily doses of 700-1000 IU) and calcium (daily doses of 1000-1200 mg) (RR 0.88).

• Fall risk was not altered by vitamin D supplementation alone in old adults with 25(OH)D levels higher than 50 nmol/L.

• A beneficial impact of vitamin D supplementation alone on prevention of falls was evident in old adults with 25(OH)D levels lower than 50 nmol/L.