High dose Calcium and Vitamin D3 improves the strength of bone in patients with fractures related to osteoporosis.

A low energy fracture is breaking a bone easily, for instance from a fall that would have no consequence in most people. This occurs in osteoporosis and some say in the forerunner to osteoporosis known as osteopenia where bone is not at an optimally healthy level but not truly thinned and weakened yet either. Low-energy fractures of the hip, forearm, shoulder and spine are known consequences of osteoporosis; the brittle bone condition.

In this study 122 patients who recently suffered with a low energy fracture of the hip or spine were placed on 3000mg of Calcium Carbonate and 1400 IU of Vitamin D3 every day or an inactive placebo for one year. The strength and health of the bone in the lumbar spine improved in the supplemented group but deteriorated further in the placebo group. There was a significant difference in bone density of the spine between the two groups. The effect on the hip was mineral but the supplement decreased the loss of bone. Supplementation significantly improved the strength of bones in patients younger than 70 years, and decreased bone loss in those over 70. The study is published in the July 2007 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.