Effect of calcium supplementation on hip fractures

There have been numerous studies of the effects of calcium supplementation, with or without vitamin D, on fractures. Individually, they have not provided clarity regarding calcium’s anti-fracture efficacy, though they have established that calcium does have beneficial effects on bone density through...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Osteoporosis international 2008-08, Vol.19 (8), p.1119-1123
Main Authors: Reid, I. R., Bolland, M. J., Grey, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Calcium
Calcium - therapeutic use
Clinical outcomes
Dietary minerals
Dietary Supplements
Diseases of the digestive system
Diseases of the osteoarticular system
Drug Therapy, Combination
Endocrinology
Female
Fractures
Hip Fractures - etiology
Hip Fractures - prevention & control
Hip joint
Humans
Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine
Male
Medical sciences
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Orthopedics
Osteoporosis - complications
Osteoporosis - drug therapy
Osteoporosis. Osteomalacia. Paget disease
Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects)
Review
Rheumatology
Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents
Vitamin D - therapeutic use
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Summary:There have been numerous studies of the effects of calcium supplementation, with or without vitamin D, on fractures. Individually, they have not provided clarity regarding calcium’s anti-fracture efficacy, though they have established that calcium does have beneficial effects on bone density throughout the skeleton in women. Meta-analysis of these data suggests that total fracture numbers are diminished. However, the data from the 5,500 women involved in trials of calcium monotherapy show consistent adverse trends in numbers of hip fractures (relative risk 1.50, 95% CI 1.06–2.12). Observational data from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures show a similar increase in risk of hip fracture associated with calcium use. We hypothesize that reduced periosteal expansion in women using calcium supplementation might account for the differences in anti-fracture efficacy of calcium at the hip, in comparison with other sites. Until there are further trial results to clarify this area, the present findings suggest that reliance on high calcium intakes to reduce the risk of hip fracture in older women is not appropriate. In addition, those at risk should be looking to other agents with a proven capacity to prevent hip fractures, such as bisphosphonates.
ISSN:0937-941X
1433-2965
DOI:10.1007/s00198-008-0563-9