Calcium, vitamin D reduce fracture risk

[Posted: Wed 13/01/2010 by Deborah Condon - www.irishhealth.com]

People who take daily supplements of calcium and vitamin D significantly reduce their risk of suffering a fracture, irrespective of their age, gender or previous fracture history, the results of a new study indicate.

According to Danish researchers, fragility fractures – fractures that occur as a result of a fall from standing height or less - are a major cause of illness in older people. However the evidence in relation to the role of vitamin D in reducing such fractures is unclear.

They analysed seven trials involving over 68,000 people in order to assess the effectiveness of the vitamin in reducing fractures. It was assessed on its own and in combination with calcium.

The study found that vitamin D supplements alone were not effective in preventing fractures. However calcium and vitamin D given together reduced hip fractures and total fractures, irrespective of gender, age and previous fractures.

The researchers acknowledged that further studies of vitamin D are needed, in order to ascertain if higher doses without calcium produce any beneficial effects.

Details of these findings are published in the British Medical Journal. In an accompanying editorial, Prof Opinder Sahota of Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham said that while the evidence is still somewhat confusing, ‘there is growing consensus that combined calcium and vitamin D is more effective than vitamin D alone in reducing non-vertebral fractures’.