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 cholecalciferol plus calcium on falling in ambulatory older men and women: a 3-year randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND A recent meta- analysis found that cholecalciferol ( vitamin D ) should reduce falls by more than 20 % . However , little is known about whether supplemental cholecalciferol plus calcium citrate malate will lower the long-term risk of falling in men , active older individuals , and older individuals with higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels . METHODS We studied the effect of 3-year supplementation with cholecalciferol-calcium on the risk of falling  at least once in 199 men and 246 women 65 years or older and living at home . Individuals received 700 IU of cholecalciferol plus 500 mg of calcium citrate malate per day or placebo in a r and omized double-blind manner . Subjects were classified as less physically active if physical activity was below the median level . Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were classified as those below 32 ng/mL ( < 80 nmol/L ) . RESULTS In 3 years , 55 % of women and 45 % of men reported at least 1 fall . Mean + /- SD baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were 26.6 + /- 12.7 ng/mL ( 66.4 + /- 31.7 nmol/L ) in women and 33.2 + /- 14.2 ng/mL ( 82.9 + /- 34.9 ) in men . Cholecalciferol-calcium significantly reduced the odds of falling in women ( odds ratio [ OR ] , 0.54 ; 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 0.30 - 0.97 ) , but not in men ( OR , 0.93 ; 95 % CI , 0.50 - 1.72 ) . Fall reduction was most pronounced in less active women ( OR , 0.35 ; 95 % CI , 0.15 - 0.81 ) . Baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D level did not modulate the treatment effect . CONCLUSIONS Long-term dietary cholecalciferol-calcium supplementation reduces the odds of falling in ambulatory older women by 46 % , and especially in less active women by 65 % . Supplementation had a neutral effect in men independent of their physical activity level
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 .