Table 1 Studies that failed to demonstrate any significant effect of vitamin D and/or calcium supplementation on fall and bone fracture rate reduction in the elderly

Latham et al. 2003 [9]

- I Prevention area and II area

- Multicenter, randomized, controlled trial with a factorial design

- N = 243

- Vitamin D:

- No reduction of the fall rate

- Falls

- Mean follow-up: 6 months

- Mean age = 79.1 ± 6.9 years

Calciferol

Dose: 300,000 IU

Per os

- Women: 53%

- Compliance: 100%

- Subjects:

Frail hospitalized

History of falls in previous year: 56%

Mean 25(OH)D₃ at entry = 17 ng/mL

Smith HE et al. 2004 [10]

- Primary prevention

- Randomized, controlled, double-blind trial

- N = 9,440

- Vitamin D:

- No significant reduction of fracture risk (OR = 1.10; [0.94-1.29]

- Non-vertebral fractures

- Mean follow-up: 3 years

- Age > 75 years

Ergocalciferol (D₂)

Dose/year: 300,000 IU

IM

- Women living at home

Porthouse J et al. 2005 [11]

- Secondary prevention

Randomized, controlled, open-label trial

- N = 3,314 (1,993 controls and 1,321 intervention)

- Vitamin D:

- No significant risk reduction:

- Vertebral or long bone fracture

- Mean follow-up: 2 years

- Mean age: (76.5 ± 5.0 control and 77.0 ± 5.1 intervention)

Cholecalciferol (D₃)

Dose/day: 800 IU

Per os

Fractures (OR = 1.01; [0.71-1.43]

Falls (OR = 0.99 [0.81-1.20] at 6 months; OR = 0.98 [0.79-1.20] at 12 months

- Women:

- Calcium: 1000 mg/day

Living at home

With one or more risk factors for hip fracture

History of falls: 34%

- Compliance: 63% at 12 months and 55% at 24 months

Grant AM et al.

2005 [12]

- Secondary prevention

- Randomized, controlled, double-blind trial

- N = 5,292 (1,332 controls and 1,311 calcium, 1,343 vitamin D and 1,306 Vitamin D and calcium)

- Vitamin D:

- No significant risk reduction:

- Vertebral or non-vertebral fractures

- Mean follow-up: 2 years

- Mean age

Cholecalciferol (D₃)

Dose/day: 800 IU

Per os

Fractures (OR = 0.94; [0.81-1.09] for calcium) (OR = 1.02; [0.88-1.19] for vitamin D)

(OR = 1.01; [0.75-1.36] for the Vitamin D and calcium combination)

- Women:

- Calcium: 1000 mg/day

Living at home

With one or more risk factors for hip fracture

History of falls: 34%

- Compliance: 54.5% at 24 months

Jackson RD et al.

2006 [13]

- I Prevention area and II area

- Randomized trial, controlled, double blinds

- N = 36,282 (18,106 controls and 18,176 intervention)

- Vitamin D:

- No reduction of the fracture risk (OR = 0, 96; [0.91-1.02]

- Vertebral fracture or long bone

- Mean follow-up 7 years

- Mean age (62.4 ± 6.9 years control subjects and 62.4 ± 7.0 years for intervention subjects)

Cholecalciferol (D3)

Dose/day: 400 IU

Per os

No effect of serum vitamin D3 level

- Women:

- Calcium: 1000 mg/day

Living at home

In good health

Post-menopausal osteoporosis

History of falls: 39%

- Compliance: 63% at 3 years and 59% at 7 years

Law M et al. 2006 [14]

- I Prevention area and II area

- Randomized trial, controlled, opened

- N = 3,717 (1,955 controls and 1,762 intervention)

- Vitamin D:

- No reduction of the rate of falls or the incidence of fractures.

- Vertebral fracture and long bone, and fall

- Mean follow-up 10 months

- Mean age of 2 groups 85 years

Ergocalciferol (D2)

Dose/3 months: 1,100 IU

Per os

- 76% of women in each group

- Subjects:

> 60 years

Institutionalized

Lyons RA et al.

2007 [15]

- I Prevention area and II area

- Randomized trial, controlled, double blinds

- N = 3,440 (1,715 controls and 1,725 intervention)

- Vitamin D:

- No reduction of the incidence of fractures

- Vertebral or non-vertebral fractures

- Mean follow-up 3 years

- Mean age (84 ± 7.4 years control subjects and 84 ± 7.6 years for intervention subjects)

Ergocalciferol (D2)

Dose/4 months: 100,000 IU

Per os

- 76% of women

- Compliance: 80% at 3 years

- Subjects:

   Institutionalized