Analysis of data collected on 68 517 individuals living in Europe and the US has found that taking vitamin D combined with calcium reduces the risk of hip fractures, total fractures, and probably vertebral fractures, irrespective of age, sex, or previous fractures.

The data analysed was taken from seven clinical trails involving ordinary people aged between 47 and 107. The pooled analysis revealed an 8 per cent lower incidence of total fractures, and a 16 per cent lower incidence of hip fracture, among those administered vitamin D combined with calcium.

Supplemental vitamin D on its own in daily doses equivalent to 10 to 20 micrograms was found to have no effect on fracture prevention. This is because calcium and vitamin D work synergistically; calcium is the major structural element in bone, while vitamin D is required for calcium utilization and the maintenance of normal blood calcium levels

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) accepted a health claim linking calcium and vitamin D to bone health in older women in 2008 following a disease-reduction claim application, made under article 14 of the European Union’s Nutrition and Health Claims regulation and submitted by Abtei Pharma Vertriebs, a GlaxoSmithKline company.

The dossier claimed that supplements containing calcium and vitamin D improves bone density in women over the age of 50, and may reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures and hip fractures. The proposed dosages were 1000mg calcium and 800 IU (20 µg) vitamin D3.
This new analysis indicates that the beneficial effects of vitamin D plus calcium on bone health may extend to other age groups and to both sexes.

Click here to view the study abstract.