Taking Calcium and Vitamin D after Hip Fracture Reduces Mortality

In a study involving 221 elderly hip fracture patients it was found that prescribed use of calcium and supplementation with vitamin D was associated with reduced mortality.

In women, concomitant use of anti-osteoporotic drugs was also associated with reduced mortality. The authors point out that, "Several studies have shown excess mortality among hip fracture patients compared with the normal population of the same age."

To conduct this study questionnaires were sent to 137 patients who were still alive 27.5 months after they suffered a hip fracture. Four year survival data for all patients in the study population was obtained. Results showed supplementation with prescribed calcium and vitamin D was associated with a 43% reduction in deaths in male subjects and a 36% reduction in deaths in female subjects. 

Female subjects who also used anti-osteoporotic drugs were found to have an even greater reduction in deaths (43%).

The authors conclude, "Further investigations are needed to understand the reason for the reduction in the risk of death. Population-based, randomized, placebo-controlled trials with total mortality as the main endpoint should be conducted to verify our results."

This information is from: "Post-Fracture Prescribed Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements Alone or, in Females, with Concomitant Anti-Osteoporotic Drugs is Associated with Lower Mortality in Elderly Hip Fracture Patients: A Prospective Analysis," Nurmi-Luthje I, Luthje P, et al, Drugs Aging, 2009; 26(5): 409-21. (Address: Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland).