BMJ  2005;330 (30 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7498.0

Calcium and vitamin D don't seem to prevent fractures

Supplementation with calcium and vitamin D doesn't seem to reduce the risk of fracture in women with one or more risk factors for fracture of the hip. In an open controlled trial, Porthouse and colleagues (p 1003) randomised 3314 women aged 70 and over to a leaflet only or a leaflet accompanied by a daily oral supplementation of 1000 mg of calcium and 800 IU vitamin D. After a median follow-up of 25 months, the two groups did not differ significantly for occurrence of fractures (odds ratio 1.01, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.43) or any other outcome measure.

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Relevant Article

Randomised controlled trial of calcium and supplementation with cholecalciferol (vitamin D₃) for prevention of fractures in primary care

Jill Porthouse, Sarah Cockayne, Christine King, Lucy Saxon, Elizabeth Steele, Terry Aspray, Mike Baverstock, Yvonne Birks, Jo Dumville, Roger Francis, Cynthia Iglesias, Suezann Puffer, Anne Sutcliffe, Ian Watt, and David J Torgerson
BMJ 2005 330: 1003. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Rapid Responses:

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Those things that hurt, instruct

BM Hegde
bmj.com, 30 Apr 2005 [Full text]

overlooking the obvious?

Catherine Collins RD
bmj.com, 8 May 2005 [Full text]

Overlooking allergies and other nutritional deficiencies.

Ellen C G Grant
bmj.com, 9 May 2005 [Full text]

Supplement may be effective

Nisha G. Mirpuri
bmj.com, 3 Jun 2005 [Full text]

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