Vitamin D Administration in the Nursing Home

Administration of vitamin D 50,000 units once monthly will: * Maintain serum 25-OH vitamin D above 20 ng/ml * Reduce falls * Increase calcaneal BMD * Reduce bone turnover * Be well tolerated: volunteers will not develop hypercalcemia * Improve performance on a swallowing quality of life questionnaire

1\. Research questions: We propose a prospective double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of once-monthly vitamin D oral capsules (50,000 units) in nursing-home residents. Subjects from several Wisconsin nursing homes were randomized to receive once-monthly vitamin D oral capsules (50,000 units) or placebo. Blood levels of 25-OH D, parathyroid hormone, serum calcium, and a marker of bone turnover will be measured periodically by standard lab assays. Swallowing quality of life was measured by questionnaire. Appropriate statistical tests (paired T tests, 95% confidence intervals will be calculated with the large sample approximation for binomial variables, other).