People living with stroke have higher rates of falls and more injurious falls than age matched counterparts. Interventions that are effective for older adults generally do not produce the same results in people living with stroke. While vitamin D supplementation has been found to improve fall rates for people with stroke living in aged care facilities, no data for community dwelling adults with stroke is available. 
This trial aims to determine the trajectory of serum vitamin D levels for people in the twelve months after stroke and describe the relationship between vitamin D levels and other biochemical markers, physical function (strength and balance), falls and injury in people with stroke.

50 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of stroke will be recruited from acute hospitals and assessed at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. Data collected will include serum levels of vitamin D, PTH, Calcium and C-reactive protein, falls, injury, fatigue, quality of life and functional outcomes, including strength, balance and walking and the use of vitamin D supplementation. 

There is a need to investigate the role of vitamin D in falls and falls prevention specifically in the stroke population.  This includes addressing gaps in evidence on (1) the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the first 12 months after stroke, (2) the relationship between vitamin D and falls, and (3) the relationship between vitamin D and falls injury severity. This project is a first vital step towards developing an effective falls prevention intervention for the large numbers of stroke survivors.

The role of Vitamin D in injurious falls for people in the first year after stroke; ongoing clinical trial