There is high quality evidence that vitamin D plus calcium is associated with a statistically significant reduction in incidence of new non-vertebral fractures .
Vitamin D alone is unlikely to prevent fractures in the doses and formulations tested so far in older people .
Supplements of vitamin D and calcium may prevent hip or any type of fracture .
There was a small but significant increase in gastrointestinal symptoms and renal disease associated with vitamin D and calcium .
This review found that there was no increased risk of death from taking calcium and vitamin
BACKGROUND Vitamin D and related compounds have been used to prevent  osteoporotic fractures in older people .
This is the third up date of a Cochrane review first published in 1996 .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effects of vitamin D or related compounds , with or without calcium , for preventing  fractures in post-menopausal women and older men .
Efficacy of ipriflavone and 1 alpha vitamin D therapy for the cessation of vertebral bone loss.
OBJECTIVE This study investigated whether a combined regimen of ipriflavone and 1 alpha vitamin D is effective in stopping postmenopausal bone loss . METHODS Ninety-eight postmenopausal women were recruited and r and omly assigned to one of four groups : group 1 , ipriflavone alone ; group 2 , 1 alpha vitamin D alone ; group 3 , combined regimen of ipriflavone and 1 alpha vitamin D ; group 4 , no treatment .  Vertebral bone mineral density , measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry , serum alkaline phosphatase , calcitonin , parathyroid hormone , osteocalcin , urinary calcium and hydroxyproline were measured before and at the 6th , 12th and 18th month of the study . All comparisons were made using Student 's t-test of means . RESULT There was a significant reduction in vertebral bone loss in the patients receiving the combined therapy ( mean loss after 18 months 0.33 % in the combination group vs. 2.37 % , 1.15 % and 3.70 % in the ipriflavone alone , 1 alpha vitamin D alone , and control groups , respectively ; P < 0.001 ) . CONCLUSION These findings suggest that the combined regimen could prevent postmenopausal bone loss
There is high quality evidence that vitamin D plus calcium is associated with a statistically significant reduction in incidence of new non-vertebral fractures .
Vitamin D alone is unlikely to prevent fractures in the doses and formulations tested so far in older people .
Supplements of vitamin D and calcium may prevent hip or any type of fracture .
There was a small but significant increase in gastrointestinal symptoms and renal disease associated with vitamin D and calcium .
This review found that there was no increased risk of death from taking calcium and vitamin
BACKGROUND Vitamin D and related compounds have been used to prevent  osteoporotic fractures in older people .
This is the third up date of a Cochrane review first published in 1996 .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effects of vitamin D or related compounds , with or without calcium , for preventing  fractures in post-menopausal women and older men .