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 calcium and vitamin D supplementation on bone mineral density in women aged 65–71 years: a 3-year randomized population-based trial (OSTPRE-FPS)
Summary The Osteoporosis Risk Factor and Prevention-Fracture Prevention Study ( OSTPRE-FPS ) was a r and omized population -based open trial ( n = 593 ) . The supplementation group ( n = 287 ) received daily cholecalciferol 800 IU + calcium 1,000 mg for 3 years while the control group ( n = 306 ) received neither supplementation nor placebo . Daily vitamin D and calcium supplementation have a positive effect on the skeleton in ambulatory postmenopausal women . Introduction Vitamin D deficiency is common in the elderly , and vitamin D levels are associated with low bone mineral density ( BMD ) . The working hypothesis was that vitamin D and calcium supplementation could prevent bone loss in ambulatory postmenopausal women . Methods The OSTPRE-FPS was a r and omized population -based open trial with a 3-year follow-up in 3,432 women ( aged 66 to 71 years ) . A r and omly selected sub sample of 593 subjects underwent BMD measurements . The supplementation group ( n = 287 ) received daily cholecalciferol 800 IU + calcium 1,000 mg for 3 years while the control group ( n = 306 ) received neither supplementation nor placebo . Results In the intention-to-treat analysis , total body BMD ( n = 362 ) increased significantly more in the intervention group than in the control group ( 0.84 % vs. 0.19 % , p = 0.011 ) . The BMD change differences at the lumbar spine ( p = 0.372 ) , femoral neck ( p = 0.188 ) , trochanter ( p = 0.085 ) , and total proximal femur ( p = 0.070 ) were statistically nonsignificant . Analyses in compliant women ( ≥80 % of use ) result ed in stronger and statistically significant effects at the total body and femoral regions . Conclusion Daily vitamin D and calcium supplementation have a positive effect on the skeleton in ambulatory postmenopausal women with adequate nutritional calcium intake
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 .