Senior Citizens Live Longer Taking Vitamin D with Calcium: Large Study
Increased longevity for elderly won’t happen with vitamin D alone says largest study ever
June 15, 2012 – More senior citizens taking vitamin D and calcium will reduce the death rate among the elderly and
increase life expectancy. The study results emphasize these benefits are not found in taking vitamin D with the calcium.
During the last decade, there has been increasing recognition of the potential health effects of vitamin D. It is well
known that calcium with vitamin D supplements reduces the risk of fractures.
The present study, published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM), assessed
mortality among senior patients randomized to either vitamin D alone or vitamin D with calcium.
The findings from the study found that the reduced mortality was not due to a lower number of fractures, but represents a
beneficial effect beyond the reduced fracture risk.
"This is the largest study ever performed on effects of calcium and vitamin D on mortality," said Lars Rejnmark, PhD, of
Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark and lead author of the study.
"Our results showed reduced mortality in elderly patients using vitamin D supplements in combination with calcium, but
these results were not found in patients on vitamin D alone."
In this study, researchers used pooled data from eight randomized controlled trials with more than 1,000 participants
each. The patient data set was comprised of nearly 90 percent women, with a median age of 70 years. During the three-year study, death was
reduced by 9 percent in those treated with vitamin D with calcium.
"Some studies have suggested calcium (with or without vitamin D) supplements can have adverse effects on cardiovascular
health," said Rejnmark.
"Although our study does not rule out such effects, we found that calcium with vitamin D supplementation to elderly
participants is overall not harmful to survival, and may have beneficial effects on general health".
Other researchers participating in the study were Alison Avenell, Tahir Masud, Frazer Anderson, Haakon E. Meyer, Kerrie
M. Sanders, Kari Salovaara, Cyrus Cooper, Helen E. Smith, Elizabeth. T. Jacobs, David Torgerson, Rebecca D. Jackson, JoAnn E. Manson, Kim
Brixen, Leif Mosekilde, John A. Robbins, Roger M. Francis, and Bo Abrahamsen.
Notes:
The article "Vitamin D with calcium reduces mortality: patient level pooled analysis of 70,528 patients from eight major
vitamin D trials", appears in the August 2012 issue of JCEM.
Founded in 1916, The Endocrine Society claims to be the world's oldest, largest and most active organization devoted to
research on hormones and the clinical practice of endocrinology. The membership consists of over 15,000 scientists, physicians, educators,
nurses and students in more than 100 countries. Society members represent all basic, applied and clinical interests in endocrinology. The
Endocrine Society is based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. To learn more, visit at
www.endo-society.org. Follow on
Twitter.
Review of 28 studies finds the vitamin associated
with a substantial decrease in cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes
and metabolic syndrome for seniors and middle aged - Feb. 16, 2010
Researchers also urging close monitoring of elderly
with hypertension during weather extremes; second study says thinking
ability varies with blood pressure
June 15, 2012 – More senior citizens taking vitamin D and calcium will reduce the death rate among the elderly and
increase life expectancy. The study results emphasize these benefits are not found in taking vitamin D with the calcium.
