Efficacy of vitamin D3 supplementation in preventing fractures in elderly women: a meta-analysis.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the effectiveness of 800 IU daily vitamin D3 supplementation, with or without calcium, in increasing bone mineral density and preventing fractures in postmenopausal women.
Results Summary
Vitamin D3 with calcium supplementation reduced non-vertebral and hip fractures, but effects on non-vertebral-non-hip fractures were less certain. Vitamin D3 plus calcium showed benefits over calcium alone for non-vertebral and non-vertebral-non-hip fractures.
Population
Postmenopausal women
Effective Dosage
800 IU daily vitamin D3, with or without calcium
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
800 IU daily vitamin D(3) supplementation | increase | bone mineral density (BMD) | postmenopausal women | - | increasing | #1 |
800 IU daily vitamin D(3) supplementation | decrease | fractures | postmenopausal women | - | preventing fractures | #2 |
vitamin D(3) with calcium supplementation | decrease | non-vertebral fractures | - | odds ratio [OR] 0.77, 95% credibility limit [CL] 0.6-0.93 | showed beneficial effects on the incidence | #3 |
vitamin D(3) with calcium supplementation | decrease | hip fractures | - | odds ratio [OR] 0.70, 95% CL 0.53-0.90 | showed beneficial effects on the incidence | #4 |
vitamin D(3) with calcium supplementation | decrease | non-vertebral-non-hip fractures | - | odds ratio [OR] 0.84, 95% CL 0.67-1.04 | were associated with more uncertainty | #5 |
Vitamin D(3) supplementation | decrease | non-vertebral fractures, hip fractures, and non-vertebral, non-hip fractures | - | 70% probability | showed a 70% probability of being a better treatment than placebo | #6 |
vitamin D(3) plus calcium | decrease | non-vertebral fractures | - | odds ratio [OR] 0.68, 95% CL 0.43-1.01 | reduced | #7 |
vitamin D(3) plus calcium | decrease | non-vertebral, non-hip fractures | - | odds ratio [OR] 0.64, 95% CL 0.38-0.99 | reduced | #8 |
vitamin D(3) plus calcium | no change | hip fractures | - | odds ratio [OR] 1.03, 95% CL 0.39-2.25 | did not reduce | #9 |
vitamin D3 of 800 IU daily | decrease | osteoporotic non-vertebral, hip, and non-vertebral-non-hip fractures | elderly women | - | reduce the incidence | #10 |
Vitamin D(3) with calcium | decrease | non-vertebral and non-vertebral-non-hip fractures | - | - | appears to achieve benefits above those attained with calcium supplementation alone | #11 |
BACKGROUND: The efficacy of vitamin D(3) in preventing fractures and falls has been explored in a number of clinical trials. However, recent evidence revealed new questions about the adequate doses of vitamin D(3) supplementation and its efficacy in fracture prevention independent of calcium supplements for various types of fractures. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a meta-analysis to estimate the effectiveness of 800 IU daily vitamin D(3) supplementation for increasing bone mineral density (BMD) and preventing fractures in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Medline and EMBASE were searched for controlled trials comparing the effectiveness of cholecalciferol (vitamin D(3)) against placebo with or without background calcium supplementation in the treatment of postmenopausal women. RESULTS: Eight controlled trials evaluating the effect of vitamin D(3) supplementation with or without calcium were assessed. Of 12 658 women included in a Bayesian meta-analysis, 6089 received vitamin D(3) (with or without calcium) and 6569 received placebo (with or without calcium). Compared to placebo, vitamin D(3) with calcium supplementation showed beneficial effects on the incidence of non-vertebral (odds ratio [OR] 0.77, 95% credibility limit [CL] 0.6-0.93) and hip (OR 0.70, 95% CL 0.53-0.90) fractures, while the effects on non-vertebral-non-hip fractures (OR 0.84, 95% CL 0.67-1.04) % point increase) were associated with more uncertainty. Vitamin D(3) supplementation showed a 70% probability of being a better treatment than placebo for the prevention of non-vertebral fractures, hip fractures, and non-vertebral, non-hip fractures. Compared to calcium supplementation, vitamin D(3) plus calcium reduced non-vertebral fractures (OR 0.68, 95% CL 0.43-1.01) and non-vertebral, non-hip fractures (OR 0.64, 95% CL 0.38-0.99), but did not reduce hip fractures (OR 1.03, 95% CL 0.39-2.25). Key limitations to this analysis include a small number of studies and heterogeneity in the study populations. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis supports the use of vitamin D3 of 800 IU daily to reduce the incidence of osteoporotic non-vertebral, hip, and non-vertebral-non-hip fractures in elderly women. Vitamin D(3) with calcium appears to achieve benefits above those attained with calcium supplementation alone for non-vertebral and non-vertebral-non-hip fractures.