High monthly vitamin D reduces respiratory infections, may increase falls for older adults
Date:
January 5, 2017
Source:
American Geriatrics Society
Summary:
Researchers concluded that a monthly high dose of vitamin D reduced the number of respiratory infections in older adults but increased the number of falls they experienced. More study is needed to see whether daily (rather than monthly) dosing with high levels of vitamin D could help protect older adults from respiratory infections and minimize the risk of falls, said the researchers.
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FULL STORY
In people over the age of 65, acute respiratory infections -- such as the common cold, influenza, or pneumonia -- can lead to potentially life-threatening complications.
Older adults who live in long-term care facilities are at especially high risk for these respiratory infections because their immune response tends to be weaker than those living in other settings. Strengthening older adults' immunity could be one way to reduce their chances of contracting respiratory infections.
Because vitamin D plays an important role in immunity, researchers decided to find out whether high monthly doses of vitamin D could lessen the number of respiratory infections experienced by older adults living in long-term care facilities. Their study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170105123154.htm
