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 .
The effect of calcium and vitamin D supplementation on obesity in postmenopausal women: secondary analysis for a large-scale, placebo controlled, double-blind, 4-year longitudinal clinical trial
Background It is undetermined whether calcium supplementation has an effect on obesity or body composition in postmenopausal women . The purpose of the study is to detect the effect of calcium supplementation on indices of obesity and body composition . Methods This is a secondary analysis of data from a population -based , double-blind , placebo-controlled , r and omized trial design ed to determine the effects of calcium and vitamin D on osteoporotic fractures . The cohort included 1179 postmenopausal women who were r and omly assigned into one of three groups : 1 ) supplemental calcium ( 1400 mg/d or 1500 mg/d ) plus vitamin D placebo ( Ca-only group ) ; 2 ) supplemental calcium ( 1400 mg/d or 1500 mg/d ) plus supplemental vitamin D3 ( 1100 IU/d ) ( Ca + D group ) ; or , 3 ) two placebos ( placebo group ) . After applying the exclusion criteria for this analysis , 870 subjects were included in this study . The primary outcomes for the present study were changes in body mass index , trunk fat , trunk lean , and percentage of trunk fat after calcium supplementation . Results Changes in trunk fat , trunk lean , and percentage of trunk fat were significantly different between the calcium intervention groups ( Ca-only group or Ca + D group ) and the placebo group during the trial ( P < 0.05 ) . The calcium intervention groups gained less trunk fat and maintained more trunk lean when compared to the placebo group . No significant difference was observed for body mass index between groups . Conclusion Calcium supplementation over four years has a beneficial effect on body composition in postmenopausal women
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 .