SUPPLEMENTATION WITH VITAMIN-D(3) AND CALCIUM PREVENTS HIP-FRACTURES IN ELDERLY WOMEN

In a study of very old women (mean age = 84 years), supplementation with 1.2 g of calcium and 800 IU of vitamin D3 daily for 18 months reduced the incidence of nonvertebral fractures by 30% and of hip fractures by 41%. This study demonstrates that calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation of very old women with low calcium intakes and low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels slows bone loss and reduces the incidence of fracture at nonvertebral sites.