Vitamin D supplementation and the prevention of fractures and falls: results of a randomised trial in elderly people in residential accommodation.

Objectives: To determine whether vitamin D supplementation reduces the risk of fracture or falls in elderly people in care home accommodation.

Design: A randomised controlled trial of cluster design.

Setting And Subjects: 223 Residential units (mainly identical 30-bedded units), within 118 homes for elderly people throughout Britain, with 3,717 participating residents (76% women, average age 85 years).