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 .
Postmenopausal osteoporosis: no effect of three years treatment with 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol.
The therapeutic effect of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol ( 1,25(OH)2D3 ) in postmenopausal osteoporosis was tested in a single blind , r and omized prospect i ve study . Thirty-nine women , 50 - 65 years of age , were treated for three years with 0.5 microgram 1,25(OH)2D3 daily . In a control group , 37 women were given 400 IU vitamin D3 daily . There was no significant difference in annual bone loss from the distal or proximal forearm between the groups . New vertebral fractures were evaluated , and in the treatment group , the annual increase in vertebral fractures was 0.18 + /- 0.387 and in the control group 0.13 + /- 0.330 . New long bone fractures were 7 and 5 , respectively . None of the observed differences were statistically significant . In the 1,25(OH)2D3 group , 28 % had to reduce the dose because of slight hypercalcaemia . We conclude that 1,25(OH)2D3 as used in this study is not effective in the treatment of 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 .