Two regimens , each represented by one large trial , which showed limited evidence of efficacy in reducing the incidence of hip or other appendicular skeleton fractures were : 1 ) Oral Vitamin D when accompanied by calcium supplementation .
2 ) 1,25 dihydroxy Vitamin D ( calcitriol ) .
This appeared more effective than calcium in a direct comparison .
Hypercalcaemia and gastro-intestinal symptoms , reported in less than 5 % of participants , were slightly more common when Vitamin D analogues were taken .
However , the risk of death was marginally less .
REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS Uncertainty remains about the efficacy of regimens which include Vitamin D or its analogues in fracture prevention .
Particularly if co-supplementation of calcium is required , significant cost differences are likely to exist between regimens .
BACKGROUND Due to their known effects on bone metabolism , Vitamin D and related compounds have been proposed for the prevention of osteoporosis and fractures .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effects of supplementation with Vitamin D or a Vitamin D analogue in the prevention of fractures of the axial and appendicular skeleton in elderly men or women with involutional or post-menopausal osteoporosis .
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
Two regimens , each represented by one large trial , which showed limited evidence of efficacy in reducing the incidence of hip or other appendicular skeleton fractures were : 1 ) Oral Vitamin D when accompanied by calcium supplementation .
2 ) 1,25 dihydroxy Vitamin D ( calcitriol ) .
This appeared more effective than calcium in a direct comparison .
Hypercalcaemia and gastro-intestinal symptoms , reported in less than 5 % of participants , were slightly more common when Vitamin D analogues were taken .
However , the risk of death was marginally less .
REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS Uncertainty remains about the efficacy of regimens which include Vitamin D or its analogues in fracture prevention .
Particularly if co-supplementation of calcium is required , significant cost differences are likely to exist between regimens .
BACKGROUND Due to their known effects on bone metabolism , Vitamin D and related compounds have been proposed for the prevention of osteoporosis and fractures .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effects of supplementation with Vitamin D or a Vitamin D analogue in the prevention of fractures of the axial and appendicular skeleton in elderly men or women with involutional or post-menopausal osteoporosis .