Calcium and vitamin-D supplementation on bone structural properties in peripubertal female identical twins: a randomised controlled trial.
A randomised controlled trial was used in assessing the impact of 6 months of daily calcium and vitamin-D supplementation on trabecular and cortical bone acquisition at distal tibial and radial sites using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Daily supplementation was associated with increased bone density and bone strength at the distal tibia and radius.


BACKGROUND
pQCT has not been used to assess bone responses to calcium and vitamin-D supplementation on peripubertal children. This randomised controlled trial aimed to assess the impact of a 6-month daily calcium and vitamin-D supplementation on trabecular and cortical bone acquisition at distal tibial and radial sites using pQCT.


METHODS
Twenty pairs of peripubertal female identical twins, aged 9 to 13 years, were randomly assigned to receive either 800 mg of calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D3, or a matched placebo. Bone structural properties at the distal tibia and distal radius were acquired at baseline and 6 months.


RESULTS
The calcium-supplemented group showed greater gains in trabecular density, trabecular area and strength strain index at the 4% of distal tibial and radial sites compared with the placebo group (p=0.001). Greater gains in cortical area at the 38% and 66% of tibial sites were also found in twins receiving the calcium supplement (p=0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Daily supplementation for a period of 6 months was associated with increased trabecular area, trabecular density and strength strain index at the ultra-distal tibia and radius and increased cortical area at tibial mid-shaft.
Greene
D A
DA
Centre of Physical Activity Across the Lifespan, School of Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University, Locked Bag 2002, Strathfield, NSW, 2763, Australia. david.greene@acu.edu.au
Naughton
G A
GA
D000293:Adolescent; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D011884:Radius / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D002762:Cholecalciferol