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 .
Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation Increases Spinal BMD in Healthy, Postmenopausal Women

Abstract : We undertook a double-masked , r and omized , placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effect of a calcium and vitamin D supplement and a calcium supplement plus multivitamins on bone loss at the hip , spine and forearm . The study was performed in 240 healthy women , 58–67 years of age . Duration of treatment was 2 years . Bone mineral density ( BMD ) was measured at the lumbar spine , hip and forearm . A dietary question naire was administered twice during the study and revealed a fairly good calcium and vitamin D intake ( 919 mg calcium/day ; 3.8 mg vitamin D/day ) . An increase in lumbar spine BMD of 1.6 % was observed in the treatment group after 2 years ( p50.002 ) . In the placebo group no significant changes were observed during the 2 years . Lumbar spine BMD was significantly higher in the treatment group at both 1 ( p50.01 ) and 2 years ( p50.05 ) compared with the placebo group . Though not significant , the same trend was seen at the hip . No significant changes from baseline values were observed at the distal forearm in either the treatment or the placebo group . In conclusion , we found a significant increase in urinary calcium excretion in the treatment group compared with the placebo group . Together with significant changes in serum calcium and serum parathyroid hormone , this indicates that a long-term calcium and vitamin supplement of 1 g elementary calcium ( calcium carbonate ) and 14 mg vitamin D3 increases intestinal calcium absorption . A positive effect on BMD was demonstrated , even in a group of early postmenopausal age , with a fairly good initial calcium and vitamin D status
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 .