Recently, I stumbled upon a review published in the Cochrane Database Systematic Review that found that the use of vitamin D supplements along with calcium greatly reduced hip fractures in post-menopausal women and older men. This combination will also help to reduce joint pain in adults in the same age category.
The review by the University of Aberdeen looked at 53 trials with 100,000 participants and found that the participants who took vitamin D and calcium supplements reduced their risk of fracture of the hip joint and pain that accompanies that type of injury.
It should be noted that taking vitamin D alone will not be effective in preventing hip fractures, but rather it must be taken with calcium supplements. The study found that 16% of the participants who used vitamin D and calcium supplements reduced their risk of a fracture of the hip joint. Pain and recovery from this type of injury is a big contributor to health costs.
Among low-risk older adults, taking vitamin D along with calcium supplements reduced one hip fracture per 1,000 each year. By comparison, in high-risk older adults, fractures of the hip joint and pain were reduced by nine out of 1,000.
Combining vitamin D and calcium supplements also significantly lowered the risk of non-vertebral fractures and any fracture of the joint, as well as the pain that these types of injuries cause.
Additionally, taking a combination of vitamin D and calcium supplements to prevent fractures of the joint and pain will not increase the risk of death. However, taking the two types of supplements does have mild side effects that include mild hypercalcaemia and high levels of calcium in serum. It should be noted that hypercalcaemia is far more likely to occur in individuals who took calcitrol, an active form of vitamin D. Other possible side effects include gastrointestinal symptoms and a risk of renal disease.
While taking a combination of vitamin D and calcium may not prevent fractures of other joints, it has been shown to prevent fractures of the hip joint, resulting in a reduction in pain and recovery costs.
If you’re at risk for hip fractures, consider taking a combination of vitamin D and calcium supplements to reduce your risk of fractures of the hip joint and the pain they cause.
Source for Today’s Article:
“Vitamin D plus calcium supplement prevents hip fracture – review,” foodconsumer.org web site, May 23, 2014; http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Nutrition/Supplements/vitamin_d_calcium_hip_fracture_0523140936.html.