Patients aged 65 years or older who underwent high-dose vitamin D supplementation intake experienced improved prevention of hip fracture and any nonvertebral fractures, according to a study.
Using 11 double-blind, randomized, controlled trials of oral vitamin D supplementation, researchers pooled participant-level data with or without calcium and compared it with placebo or calcium alone in patients aged 65 years or older. The researchers compared data from quartiles of actual intake of vitamin D in the treatment groups of all trials vs. data from the control groups.
Incidence of hip and any nonvertebral fractures according to Cox regression analyses, with adjustment for age group, sex, type of dwelling and study were included as primary endpoints.
Overall, 31,022 patients with 1,111 incident hip fractures and 3,770 nonvertebral fractures were included. Compared with patients assigned to control groups, patients who received vitamin D experienced a 10% reduction in the risk of hip fracture and a 7% reduction in the risk of nonvertebral fracture. Study results showed patients who had the highest intake level of vitamin D experienced the highest reduction in fracture risk. This result was consistent across age group, type of dwelling, baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and additional calcium intake subgroups.
For more information:
Bischoff-Ferrari HA. N Engl J Med. 2012;367:40-49.
Disclosure: The researchers have no relevant financial disclosures.
