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 .
[Treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis with 1-alpha(OH)D3].
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 1-alpha(OH ) vitamin D3 in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis , we conducted a six month prospect i ve , double blind study in 20 postmenopausal women . Women were r and omly divided into two groups . One group ( n=12 ) received 1-alpha(OH ) vitamin D3 ( 0.25 mcg twice a day ) , the other ( n=8 ) received placebo . At the same time both groups received one calcium tablet ( 500 mg daily ) . In the group treated with 1-alpha(OH ) vitamin D3 , there was a significant increase in serum calcium ( p<0.01 ) , urinary excretion of calcium ( p<0.05 ) , and serum 1.25(OH)2 vitamin D3 concentracion ( p<0.01 ) , while parathyroid hormone levels showed tendency to fall without statistical significance . In the group treated with placebo and calcium , after treatment there was only a significant increase in serum calcium ( p<0.01 ) . In the placebo group occurrance of one new vertebral fracture was recorded . There were no side effects during treatment in both groups . It was concluded that the administration of 1-alpha(OH ) vitamin D3 is a safe and potentially efficient drug in the treatment of postmenopausal 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 .