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 .
Reduced occurrence of vertebral crush fractures in senile osteoporosis treated with 1 alpha (OH)-vitamin D3.
To examine whether the administration of 1 alpha (OH)-vitamin D3 ( 1 alpha (OH)D3 ) could prevent the occurrence of vertebral crush fractures in senile osteoporosis , crush fractures of the thoracic or lumbar spine in senile osteoporosis treated with 1 alpha (OH)D3  , 1.0 microgram/day ( 22 cases ) , 1 alpha (OH)D3 1.0 microgram/day + Ca 1.0 g/day ( 16 cases ) or Ca 1.0 g/day ( 23 cases ) were compared with those in non-treated controls ( 25 cases ) . The average treatment periods were 1.7 + /- 0.7 years in the 1 alpha (OH)D3 group , 2.1 + /- 1.0 years in the 1 alpha (OH)D3 + Ca group and 1.7 + /- 0.9 years in the Ca group . Occurrence of spinal crush fractures per 1000 patient years was significantly less in the 1 alpha (OH)D3 + Ca group ( P less than 0.01 ) than in the non-treated control group . These findings suggest that administration of 1 alpha (OH)D3 is effective in preventing the occurrence of pathological fractures in senile osteoporosis
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 .