Vitamin D & Calcium: Can They Prevent Broken Bones?
Quick Summary: Research shows that taking calcium and vitamin D together may lower your risk of breaking a bone, especially a hip. This study looked at many previous studies to find this out.
What The Research Found
This study found that taking calcium and vitamin D supplements together reduced the chance of any type of fracture by 15%. It also lowered the risk of breaking a hip by 30%.
Study Details
- Who was studied: The study looked at the results of many other studies that included people taking calcium and vitamin D. The summary doesn't say exactly who was in those studies.
- How long: The summary doesn't say how long the studies lasted.
- What they took: The summary doesn't say how much calcium or vitamin D people took.
What This Means For You
If you're worried about breaking a bone, especially as you get older, talking to your doctor about calcium and vitamin D supplements might be a good idea. This research suggests that taking both together could help.
Study Limitations
The study didn't give specific details about how much vitamin D or calcium people took. Also, the people in the studies might have been different, which could affect the results.
Technical Analysis Details
Key Findings
This meta-analysis concluded that combined calcium and vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced the risk of total fractures by 15% (summary relative risk estimate [SRRE], 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73–0.98) and hip fractures by 30% (SRRE, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.56–0.87). The results indicate a clinically meaningful protective effect against fractures in populations receiving this dual supplementation.
Study Design
The study was an updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating calcium plus vitamin D for fracture prevention. It synthesized data from multiple RCTs, though the provided summary does not specify the exact number of trials, total participants, study duration, or participant demographics (e.g., age, sex, baseline vitamin D status). The analysis followed systematic review methodology as commissioned by the National Osteoporosis Foundation.
Dosage & Administration
The summary does not detail specific calcium or vitamin D doses, formulations (e.g., vitamin D₂ vs. D₃), or administration frequency (e.g., daily, intermittent) used across the included trials. The analysis focused on the combined intervention without isolating vitamin D-specific dosing parameters.
Results & Efficacy
The primary outcome was fracture incidence. Supplementation yielded a statistically significant 15% reduction in total fractures (SRRE = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73–0.98; p < 0.05 implied by non-overlapping CI with 1.0) and a 30% reduction in hip fractures (SRRE = 0.70; 95% CI, 0.56–0.87). The confidence intervals for both outcomes exclude 1.0, confirming statistical significance at the 95% level. No subgroup analyses (e.g., by dose, age, or sex) are reported in the provided summary.
Limitations
Key limitations include the lack of granular data on vitamin D dosing, calcium sources, or participant characteristics (e.g., baseline deficiency status), preventing dose-response analysis. Heterogeneity across included trials (e.g., varying doses, populations, follow-up periods) may affect result generalizability. The analysis did not assess vitamin D alone, so its independent efficacy remains unquantified here. Future research should isolate vitamin D effects and define optimal dosing.
Clinical Relevance
For supplement users, this meta-analysis supports that combined calcium and vitamin D supplementation lowers fracture risk, particularly hip fractures—a major cause of morbidity in older adults. However, the absence of dose-specific data means users cannot extrapolate ideal intake levels from this study alone. Clinicians should consider individual factors (e.g., dietary calcium intake, vitamin D status) when recommending supplementation, as the analysis does not establish a universal protocol. The findings reinforce guidelines advocating combined supplementation for fracture prevention in at-risk populations.
Original Study Reference
Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and risk of fractures: an updated meta-analysis from the National Osteoporosis Foundation.
Source: PubMed
Published: 2016-01-01
📄 Read Full Study (PMID: 26510847)
