Vitamin D and Calcium

Friday, May 7, 2010

Vitamin D and Calcium Reduce Bone Fractures

Doctors surprised that women and men of all benefit. New study shows the two nutrients must be taken together to reduce the chances of fracture. Researchers reviewed seven major
vitamin D bone fracture studies covering more than 68,500 participants, average age 70, who took vitamin D with or without calcium. Doctors found that overall, people who took vitamin
D with calcium were 8 percent less likely to have a bone fracture, and 16 percent less likely to have a hip fracture, compared to those who did not take vitamin D with calcium. Scientists
noted that the chances of fracture did not decline with vitamin D alone, but only when participants took vitamin D and calcium together. Doctors were surprised to find
that vitamin D with calcium benefited women and men of all ages and concluded that, “Calcium and vitamin D given together reduce hip fractures and total fractures, and probably
vertebral fractures, irrespective of age, sex, or previous fractures.”

Reference: British Medical Journal; 2010, Vol. 340,
Electronic Prepublication