title: Effects on bone mineral density of calcium and vitamin D supplementation in elderly women with vitamin D deficiency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Calcium and vitamin D deficiency is common in older individuals, particularly those who live in nursing homes, and increases the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study of combined supplementation with 500 mg of elemental calcium, as carbonate, and 400 IU of vitamin D bid for 12 months in women older than 65 years of age with vitamin D deficiency, defined as serum 25(OH)D concentrations </=12 ng/ml.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean patient age was 75 +/- 7 years, and median daily dietary intakes of calcium and vitamin D were 697 mg and 66.8 IU in the supplemented group (n = 95) and 671 mg and 61.8 IU in the placebo group (n = 97). The median serum 25(OH)D level was 7.0 ng/ml in both groups, and the medial intact parathyroid hormone (PTHi) levels were 49 and 48 pg/ml in the supplemented and placebo groups, respectively. The median increase in serum 25(OH)D was 22.0 ng/ml in the supplemented group and 4 ng/ml in the placebo group (P < 0.0001), and the median PTHi decrease was 17 and 5 pg/ml, respectively (P < 0.0001). The median bone mineral density increase was significantly greater in the supplemented group than in the placebo group: +2.98% vs. -0.21% at L2-L4 (P = 0.0009), +1.19% and -0.83% at the femoral neck (P = 0.015), +0.86% and -0.56% at the trochanter (P = 0.015), and +0.99% and +0.11% for the whole body (P = 0.01). Similarly, the median decrease in the main bone markers was significantly greater in the treated group than in the placebo group: -1.35 microg/l vs. +0.50 microg/l for bone alkaline phosphatase (P = 0.008), -16.6 nmol/mmol creatinine vs. -2.3 nmol/mmol creatinine for urinary type I amino-terminal telopeptide (P = 0.001), and -896 pmol/l vs. -201 pmol/l for serum type I carboxy-terminal telopeptide (P = 0.003). We found no significant differences between the two groups for serum calcium, although urinary calcium excretion changed more in the supplemented group than in the placebo group. In conclusion, bone mass in older women with vitamin D deficiency increases significantly at the lumbar spine, femur, trochanter, and whole body after calcium and vitamin D supplementation for 1 year, and concomitantly bone markers improved as vitamin D levels returned to normal.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Department, North Hospital Group, 80054 cedex 1, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grados
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brazier
authors.forename: Saïd
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamel
authors.forename: Sigolène
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duver
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Heurtebize
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maamer
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mathieu
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garabédian
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sebert
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fardellone
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000209:etiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium