The researchers found that the use of vitamin D with calcium (the participants used either 10 or 20 micrograms [µg or mcg]) produced a reduced overall risk of fractures. One mcg is equal to one-millionth of a gram.
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They concluded within the abstract to their paper, “This individual patient data analysis indicates that vitamin D given alone in doses of 10-20 µg is not effective in preventing fractures."
"By contrast, calcium and vitamin D given together reduce hip fractures and total fractures, and probably vertebral fractures, irrespective of age, sex, or previous fractures.”
According to the UPI.com article “Daily D and calcium keep fractures away,” Dr. John Robbins of the University of California, Davis, one of the authors of the study, is paraphrased in the article as saying it helps to take dosages of vitamin D plus calcium to reduce the risk of bone fractures “… whether a person is young or old, male or female, or has had fractures in the past.”
Dr. Robbins adds, "What is important about this very large study is that goes a long way toward resolving conflicting evidence about the role of vitamin D, either alone or in combination with calcium, in reducing fractures.” [UPI]
And, “Our WHI research in Sacramento included more than 1,000 healthy, postmenopausal women and concluded that taking calcium and vitamin D together helped them preserve bone health and prevent fractures."
"This latest analysis, because it incorporates so many more people, really confirms our earlier conclusions." [UPI]
