Calcium + vitamin D reduces vertebral fracture, says large study

Taking supplements of calcium and vitamin D led to a large group of women experiencing less lower vertebral fracture and less in situ breast caner, say a study published in the Journal of Women’s Health.

The data comes from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) plus Vitamin D Supplement Trial. About 30,000 postmenopausal women were tracked for nearly five years after the seven-year period of calcium plus vitamin D supplementation ended. 

After an average of 11 years, calcium (1,000mg) and vitamin D (400IU) supplementation did not decrease hip fracture, colorectal cancer incidence or heart disease. But it was a different story for vertebral fracture and some breast cancer.

“This post-intervention study from the WHI contributes new data on the long-term effects of calcium plus vitamin D supplementation on health outcomes,” says Dr Susan Kornstein, editor-in-chief of Journal of Women’s Health.

Visit http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/jwh.2013.4270 for the full article.