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Review: calcium supplementation has a small positive effect on bone mineral density but not fractures in postmenopausal women

Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care IM/Ambulatory care Geriatrics Rheumatology

Key Words: fractures • calcium • bone density • osteoporosis (postmenopausal)

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

METHODS
Data sources: Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (2001), Medline (January 1966 to April 2001), EMBASE/Excerpta Medica (January 1966 to April 2001), Current Contents (review of the 6 mo prior to April 2001), bibliographies of relevant articles, experts, and proceedings of international meetings.

Study selection and assessment: randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared calcium supplementation (400 mg/d) with usual calcium intake where both groups received a maintenance dose of vitamin D 400 IU/day and a vitamin D loading dose 300 000 IU; examined women >45 years who were postmenopausal (absence of menses of 6 mo); reported fractures or BMD of the total body, vertebral spine, hip, or forearm; and had follow up for 1 year. 3 independent reviewers assessed methodological quality including allocation concealment, blinding, and losses to follow up.

Outcomes: BMD and fractures.

MAIN RESULTS
15 studies (1806 participants, 953 of whom received calcium supplementation) met the selection criteria. 13 studies reported . . . [Full text of this article]

Steven Cummings, MD, FACP¹, Deborah Sellmeyer, MD²

¹ California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute
² University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California, USA