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 .
Effect of combined administration of vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 on bone mineral density of the lumbar spine in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis
Abstract The effect of the combined administration of vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 on bone mineral density ( BMD ) of the lumbar spine was examined in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis . Ninety-two osteoporotic women who were more than 5 years after menopause , aged 55–81 years , were r and omly divided into four administration groups : vitamin D3 ( 1α hydroxyvitamin D3 , 0.75 μg/day ) ( D group ; n = 29 ) , vitamin K2 ( menatetrenone , 45 mg/day ) ( K group ; n = 22 ) , vitamin D3 plus vitamin K2 ( DK group , n = 21 ) , and calcium ( calcium lactate , 2 g/day ) ( C group ; n = 20 ) . BMD of the lumbar spine ( L2–L4 ) was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at 0 , 1 , and 2 years after the treatment started . There were no significant differences in age , body mass index , years since menopause , and initial BMD among the four groups . One-way analysis of variance ( ANOVA ) with repeated measurements showed a significant decrease in BMD in the C group ( P < 0.001 ) . Two-way ANOVA with repeated measurements showed a significant increase in BMD in the D and K groups compared with that in the C group ( P < 0.05 and P < 0.001 , respectively ) , and a significant increase in BMD in the DK group compared with that in the C , D , and K groups ( P < 0.0001 , P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 , respectively ) . These findings indicate that combined administration of vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 , compared with calcium administration , appears to be useful in increasing the BMD of the lumbar spine in postmenopausal women with 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 .