Vitamin D and vitamin D analogues for preventing fractures associated with involutional and post‐menopausal osteoporosis
Abstract
Background
Due to their known effects on bone metabolism, vitamin D and related compounds have been proposed for the prevention of osteoporosis and fractures.
Objectives
To determine the effects of supplementation with Vitamin D or a Vitamin D analogue in the prevention of fractures of the axial and appendicular skeleton in elderly men or women with involutional or post‐menopausal osteoporosis.
Search methods
We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, LILACS, CABNAR, BIOSIS, HEALTHSTAR, Current Contents, The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Cochrane Musculoskeletal Injuries Group trials register, and bibliographies of identified trials and reviews. Date of the most recent search: September 2000.
Selection criteria
Any randomised or quasi‐randomised trial which compared vitamin D or a vitamin D analogue, either alone or in combination with calcium supplementation, with a placebo, no intervention, or the administration of calcium supplements, with eligible fracture outcomes, in elderly men or women with involutional or post‐menopausal osteoporosis.
Data collection and analysis
Two reviewers independently assessed trial quality, by use of a nine item scale, and extracted data. Additional information was sought from trialists. Where possible the data were pooled. Pooling of data, where it was admissible, used pooled relative risk and fixed effects model.
Main results
Almost all estimates of treatment effects are based on single studies. Administration of vitamin D3 alone without calcium co‐supplementation was not associated with any reduction in incidence of hip fracture (relative risk (RR) 1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83, 1.75) or other non‐vertebral fracture. Administration of vitamin D3 with calcium co‐supplementation to frail elderly people in sheltered accommodation was associated with a reduction in incidence of hip fracture (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.60, 0.91). In healthy younger, ambulant participants the effect on hip fracture is unknown (RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.01, 8.78), although there appears to be a significant overall effect on non‐vertebral fracture incidence in this group ( RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.23,0.90).
Calcitriol (1,25 dihdyroxy vitamin D) was effective in reducing the incidence of vertebral deformity (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.25, 0.95). Calcitriol was more effective than calcium in reducing the frequency of new vertebral deformities during the third year of treatment (RR 0.28, 95% CI 0.15, 0.52). 1‐alpha‐hydroxy vitamin D was effective in reducing the incidence of non‐vertebral fractures in a single small study of elderly people whose mobility was impaired by neurological disease (RR 0.12, 95% CI 0.02, 0.95).
No statistically significant effects were found for other comparisons of vitamin D or its analogues against each other, with and without calcium supplementation.
Authors' conclusions
Uncertainty remains about the efficacy of regimens which include vitamin D or its analogues in fracture prevention. Particularly if co‐supplementation of calcium is required, significant cost differences are likely to exist between regimens. Further large randomised trials are currently being conducted to clarify the effectiveness of community fracture prevention programmes employing vitamin D supplementation.
PICOs
Plain language summary
Vitamin D with calcium supplements reduces the risk of fracture in some older people.
Vitamin D is necessary for building bone. Older people often have low vitamin D levels. Therefore, it has been suggested that taking additional vitamin D may help to reduce the risk of hip and other fractures. It is still not clear whether vitamin D alone can reduce the risk of fracture. Vitamin D taken with additional calcium supplements does reduce fracture risk. Although the risk of bad effects from vitamin D is small, some people, particularly with some types of kidney disease or disease of the parathyroid glands, should not take these supplements.
