Two regimens , each represented by one large trial , which showed limited evidence of efficacy in reducing the incidence of hip or other appendicular skeleton fractures were : 1 ) Oral Vitamin D when accompanied by calcium supplementation .
2 ) 1,25 dihydroxy Vitamin D ( calcitriol ) .
This appeared more effective than calcium in a direct comparison .
Hypercalcaemia and gastro-intestinal symptoms , reported in less than 5 % of participants , were slightly more common when Vitamin D analogues were taken .
However , the risk of death was marginally less .
REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS Uncertainty remains about the efficacy of regimens which include Vitamin D or its analogues in fracture prevention .
Particularly if co-supplementation of calcium is required , significant cost differences are likely to exist between regimens .
BACKGROUND Due to their known effects on bone metabolism , Vitamin D and related compounds have been proposed for the prevention of osteoporosis and fractures .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effects of supplementation with Vitamin D or a Vitamin D analogue in the prevention of fractures of the axial and appendicular skeleton in elderly men or women with involutional or post-menopausal osteoporosis .
Calcium intake influences the association of protein intake with rates of bone loss in elderly men and women.
BACKGROUND There is currently no consensus on the effect of dietary protein intake on the skeleton , but there is some indication that low calcium intakes adversely influence the effect of dietary protein on fracture risk . OBJECTIVE The objective of the present study was to determine whether supplemental calcium citrate malate and vitamin D influence any associations between  protein intake and change in bone mineral density ( BMD ) . DESIGN Associations between protein intake and change in BMD were examined in 342 healthy men and women ( aged > or = 65 y ) who had completed a 3-y , r and omized , placebo-controlled trial of calcium and vitamin D supplementation . Protein intake was assessed at the midpoint of the study with the use of a food-frequency question naire and  BMD  was assessed every 6 mo by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry . RESULTS The mean ( + /-SD ) protein intake of all subjects was 79.1 + /- 25.6 g/d and the mean total calcium intakes of the supplemented and placebo groups were 1346 + /- 358 and 871 + /- 413 mg/d , respectively . Higher protein intake was significantly associated with a favorable 3-y change in total-body BMD in the supplemented group ( in a model containing terms for age , sex , weight , total energy intake , and dietary calcium intake ) but not in the placebo group . The pattern of change in femoral neck BMD with increasing protein intake in the supplemented group was similar to that for the total body . CONCLUSION Increasing protein intake may have a favorable effect on change in BMD in elderly subjects supplemented with calcium citrate malate and vitamin
Two regimens , each represented by one large trial , which showed limited evidence of efficacy in reducing the incidence of hip or other appendicular skeleton fractures were : 1 ) Oral Vitamin D when accompanied by calcium supplementation .
2 ) 1,25 dihydroxy Vitamin D ( calcitriol ) .
This appeared more effective than calcium in a direct comparison .
Hypercalcaemia and gastro-intestinal symptoms , reported in less than 5 % of participants , were slightly more common when Vitamin D analogues were taken .
However , the risk of death was marginally less .
REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS Uncertainty remains about the efficacy of regimens which include Vitamin D or its analogues in fracture prevention .
Particularly if co-supplementation of calcium is required , significant cost differences are likely to exist between regimens .
BACKGROUND Due to their known effects on bone metabolism , Vitamin D and related compounds have been proposed for the prevention of osteoporosis and fractures .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effects of supplementation with Vitamin D or a Vitamin D analogue in the prevention of fractures of the axial and appendicular skeleton in elderly men or women with involutional or post-menopausal osteoporosis .