Micronutrients & recovery
Combined vitamin D (300-1100 IU/d) and calcium (500-1200 mg/d) supplementation reduces fracture risk in older adults, with significant benefit in institutionalized settings but negligible benefit in community-dwelling populations.
For elderly individuals, especially those in care facilities, taking a combination of Vitamin D (300-1000 IU) and Calcium (500-1200 mg) daily can significantly lower the risk of breaking a bone. However, for healthy, community-dwelling older adults, this combination may not provide a statistically significant benefit over placebo. Consult a doctor to determine if you fall into the high-risk institutional category or if dietary sources suffice.
Combined vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduced fracture risk (pooled relative risk, 0.88 [CI, 0.78 to 0.99]) in older adults, but the effects differed according to study setting: institution (relative risk, 0.71 [CI, 0.57 to 0.89]) versus community-dwelling (relative risk, 0.89 [CI, 0.76 to 1.04]).
Why this rating
Based on 11 RCTs with moderate heterogeneity (I2=36%) and statistically significant pooled relative risk.
Source
Vitamin D With or Without Calcium Supplementation for Prevention of Cancer and Fractures: An Updated Meta-analysis for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
Mei Chung et al. · Annals of Internal Medicine · 2011
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