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 low-dose calcitriol and calcium therapy on bone histomorphometry and urinary calcium excretion in osteopenic women.
We evaluated low-dose calcitriol ( 0.25 microgram b.i.d . ) in combination with 1 g of supplemental calcium therapy as treatment for osteopenic women over 60 years of age ( n = 4 ) . Control patients ( n = 6 ) received ergocalciferol ( 50,000 units twice a week ) and 1 g of supplemental calcium .  Bone biopsies and CT-determined bone mineral density were done initially and after 1 year of therapy . Bone mineral density increased from 77 + /- 18 to 88 + /- 9 mg/ml ( NS ) in the calcitriol-treated group and from 87 + /- 13 to 112 + /- 30 mg/ml ( NS ) in the ergocalciferol-treated group . There was also no significant change in bone volume , as determined by bone biopsy in either group . No compression fractures occurred in either treatment group . After 1 year of therapy , urinary calcium excretion was increased significantly above that observed in age-matched untreated women . Creatinine clearance did not change significantly . Hypercalcemia was rare . In summary , we found calcitriol was not superior to ergocalciferol in preventing progressive bone loss and fractures . Both therapies were associated with significant hypercalciuria
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 .