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 .
Does 24R,25(OH)2-vitamin D3 prevent postmenopausal bone loss?
Summary The effect of oral 24R,25(OH)2-vitamin D3 as a prophylactic for postmenopausal bone loss was examined . Fifty-eight healthy , early postmeno-pausal women entered a double blind therapeutic trial for 2 years . After an initial examination the women were r and omized to treatment with 10 μg 24R,25(OH)2D3 daily or placebo . Participants were thereafter examined every 3 months ( nine examinations in all ) . In both groups the forearm bone mineral ( measured by single photon absorptiometry ) , the lumbar spine mineral , and the total body mineral ( measured by dual photon absorptiometry ) fell significantly and the same magnitude . Further-more , serum calcium , serum alkaline phosphatase concentration , and fasting urinary hydroxyproline were unchanged , as were the 24-hour urinary calcium excretion and the intestinal radiocalcium absorption . Our findings demonstrate that 24R,25(OH)2D3 treatment has no prophylactic effect on postmenopausal bone loss and does not alter calcium metabolic variables
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 .