Prevention of falls and role of calcium and vitamin D

Abstract

Falls in the elderly are very common and represent a serious cause of morbidity, severe disability and death. Impairments of the mechanisms of postural stability with age and the presence of acute and chronic diseases may favour the occurrence of falls in the elderly. Together with the adoption of non-pharmacological measures, supplementation of calcium and vitamin D demonstrated to reduce hip fracture risk, particularly in institutionalized people.