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 .
A randomized controlled trial of vitamin D3 supplementation in African American women.
BACKGROUND We conducted a r and omized , placebo-controlled , double-blind trial to test the hypothesis that vitamin D(3 ) supplementation would prevent bone loss in calcium-replete , African American postmenopausal women . METHODS Two hundred eight healthy black postmenopausal women , 50 to 75 years of age , were assigned to receive either placebo or 20 microg/d ( 800 IU ) of vitamin D(3 ) . Calcium supplements were provided to ensure a total calcium intake of 1200 to 1500 mg/d . After 2 years , the vitamin D(3 ) dose was increased to 50 microg/d ( 2000 IU ) in the active group , and the study continued for an additional year . Bone mineral density ( BMD ) was measured every 6 months . Markers of bone turnover , vitamin D metabolites , and parathyroid hormone ( PTH ) levels were measured in serum . RESULTS There were no significant differences in BMD between the active and control groups throughout the study . There was also no relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels attained and rates of bone loss . There was an increase in BMD of the total body , hip , and radius at 1 year in both groups . Over the 3 years , BMD declined at these sites by 0.26 % to 0.55 % per year . The BMD of the lumbar spine increased slightly in the placebo and active groups . There were no persistent changes in serum PTH levels or the markers of bone turnover , although there was a transient decline in PTH in both groups at 3 months . No significant adverse events were attributed to vitamin D supplementation . CONCLUSIONS There was no observed effect of vitamin D(3 ) supplementation on bone loss or bone turnover markers in calcium-replete , postmenopausal African American women . Further studies are needed to determine if these findings are applicable to women of other ethnic groups
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 .