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Vitamin D plus calcium may help seniors avoid bone fractures

Category: Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment

According to a recent study, vitamin D combined with calcium may help protect seniors from bone fractures. Researchers also discovered that when the vitamin was taken on its own, no significant protection was offered.

The study, conducted at Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, brought together seven controlled trials totaling nearly 70,000 patients with a median age of 70. Taking a combined dosage of the nutrients on a daily basis decreased overall fracture risk by 8 percent while lowering hip fracture risk by nearly 16 percent.

Taking the vitamin alone showed no significant effect compared to the placebo.

"The data all point toward the importance of giving calcium with your vitamin D," said lead author Bo Abrahamsen. "But we would very much welcome studies where larger doses of vitamin D were tried out on their own."

Researchers recommend a dose of 1,000 mg of calcium and 10 mcg of vitamin D on a daily basis. For high-risk patients, the nutrients should be supplemented by bisphosphonates or other antiosteoporotic drugs, according to Med Page Today.