Vitamin D supplements with or without calcium to prevent fractures
BoneKEy Reports (2014) 3, Article number: 512 (2014) doi:10.1038/bonekey.2014.7
Received 02 September 2013 Accepted 05 November 2013 Published online 05 March 2014
Paul Lips, Evelien Gielen & Natasja M van Schoor
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with fractures. This relationship is biologically plausible. The results of 19 randomized clinical trials with vitamin D with or without calcium show varying results: a decreased fracture incidence in 7, neutral in 10 trials, whereas 2 trials with a high dose of vitamin D once per year showed an increased fracture incidence. In three out of four well-powered trials that used recommended doses of vitamin D 700–1000 IU per day, vitamin D supplementation did not significantly influence fracture risk. In one of these trials, a statistically significant fracture reduction was observed in nursing home residents having severe vitamin D deficiency, low calcium intake and good compliance.
Thirteen meta-analyses were done, and 11 of these showed a significantly decreased fracture incidence in the supplemented groups. Vitamin D alone was not effective, studies combining vitamin D and calcium showed inconsistent results. Analyses for vertebral fractures were negative in all cases. In conclusion, a vitamin D supplement of 800 IU per day in combination with calcium may decrease the incidence of non-vertebral fractures, especially in persons in the older age groups having low-baseline vitamin D status and low calcium intake and showing good compliance.
Table 2
PDF is attached at the bottom of this page
Comment by Vitamin D Life
Yes, need extra Calcium with low amount of vitamin D, but Calcium should be minimized with high level of vitamin D
Note: Following chart which shows that supplement suppliers reduce the Calcium as they increase the Vitamin D in pills
See also Vitamin D Life
- Overview Fractures and vitamin D
- UK would save as least 636 million dollars annually by giving 800 IU vitamin D free to all seniors – June 2014
- IoM again fails to look at interactions - Nov 2010 has the following chart
Meta-analysis of Falls and Fracture in Vitamin D Life
- Hip fractures not prevented by Vitamin D (800 IU daily or large quarterly or annual doses) – meta-analysis – Dec 2019
- Vitamin K (any amount and any kind) reduced bone fractures by 24 percent – meta-analysis – May 2019
- Vitamin D not help fractures and falls if not vitamin D deficient – meta-analysis Oct 2018
- Fractures not reduced by small amounts of vitamin D - meta-analysis Dec 2017
- Preventing Falls in Older Adults – Vitamin D combination is the best - JAMA Meta-analysis Nov 2017
- Hip fracture 58 percent more likely if low vitamin D – meta-analysis March 2017
- Fracture risk reduced somewhat by 800 IU of vitamin D and Calcium – meta-analysis Oct 2015
- Acute fracture patients – 70 percent were vitamin D deficient – meta-analysis Sept 2015
- Falls not prevented by vitamin D given every 3 months or less often – meta-analysis Jan 2015
- Vitamin D prevents falls – majority of meta-analyses conclude – meta-meta analysis Feb 2015
- Vitamin D and fractures – 24 meta-analyses and counting – Dec 2014
- Bone fractures reduced by a minimum of 800 IU vitamin D and Calcium – meta-meta-analysis March 2014
- Fractures reduced with any amount of vitamin D and some Calcium - Cochraine April 2014
- Fallers often had less than 20 ng of vitamin D – meta-analysis April 2014
- Hip fractures greatly reduced by sunshine, vitamin D, and vitamin K – meta-analysis Sept 2012
- Vitamin D may prevent falls and fractures without Calcium – an overview of 9 meta-analysis – Oct 2012
- Hip fractures reduced 30 percent with 800 IU of vitamin D – meta-analysis July 2012
- Vitamin D reduces falls – meta-analysis Oct 2011
- Active form of vitamin D (calcitriol) cut in half the fractures following organ transplant – meta-analysis Aug 2011
- 1000 IU minimum to decrease falls and fractures Swiss - 2009
- Meta-analysis of falls and 800+ IU of vitamin D found good results – June 2010
- 800 IU vitamin D reduces falls - Dec 2009