Geoff Nicholson, of Barwon Health and the University of Melbourne in Geelong, and colleagues investigated the impact of a single annual high-dose of oral vitamin D on older women.
"We expected to find a reduction in falls and fractures but we found exactly the opposite," says Professor Nicholson, whose findings appear today in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Vitamin D is needed in order for the body to absorb calcium, necessary for healthy bones.
It also plays a role in keeping muscles strong, especially those around the limb girdles.
Professor Nicholson says while the Sun is a major source of the vitamin, indoor lifestyles and the advent of anti-skin cancer campaigns have contributed to low vitamin D levels.
"A good proportion of the population, particularly women who are older, have lower vitamin D levels than are considered healthy," he said.
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