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 .
Calcium and vitamin D supplements reduce tooth loss in the elderly.
PURPOSE Oral bone and tooth loss are correlated with bone loss at nonoral sites . Calcium and vitamin D supplementation slow the rate of bone loss from various skeletal sites , but it is not known if intake of these nutrients affects oral bone and , in turn , tooth retention . SUBJECTS AND METHODS Tooth loss was examined in 145 healthy subjects aged 65 years and older who completed a 3-year , r and omized , placebo-controlled trial of the effect of calcium and vitamin D supplementation on bone loss from the hip , as well as a 2-year follow-up study after discontinuation of study supplements . Teeth were counted at 18 months and 5 years . A comprehensive oral examination at 5 years included assessment of caries , oral hygiene , and periodontal disease . The odds ratio ( OR ) and 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) of tooth loss were estimated by stepwise multivariate logistic regression . Initial age ( mean + /- SD ) of subjects was 71 + /- 5 years , and the number of teeth remaining was 22 + /- 7 . RESULTS During the r and omized trial , 11 of the 82 subjects ( 13 % ) taking supplements and 17 of the 63 subjects ( 27 % ) taking placebo  lost one or more teeth ( OR = 0.4 ; 95 % CI : 0.2 to 0.9 ) . During the 2-year follow-up period , 31 of the 77 subjects ( 40 % ) with total calcium intake of at least 1000 mg per day lost one or more teeth compared with 40 of the 68 subjects ( 59 % ) who consumed less ( OR = 0.5 ; 95 % CI : 0.2 to 0.9 ) . CONCLUSION These findings suggest that intake levels of calcium and vitamin D aim ed at preventing osteoporosis have a beneficial effect on tooth retention
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 .