Benefits of Vitamin D and calcium supplements are minimal, study says

Many women take calcium and Vitamin D supplements after menopause, in hopes of reducing their chances of breaking a bone and of attaining other health benefits. How well do these supplements perform over the long term?

This is a question trending on the lips of so many people, but in the view of reality supplements are proven to be a good source to tackle any defects on the body.

THIS STUDY involved 36,282 post-menopausal women, 50 to 79 years old, who were randomly assigned to take both calcium (1,000 milligrams) and Vitamin D (400 international units) supplements or placebo supplements daily.

After about 11 years, there was virtually no difference in the rate of hip fractures among those who were not taking calcium and Vitamin D and those who were. Rates of cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke and colorectal cancer did not vary between the two groups, nor did death rates.

Overall, invasive breast cancer occurred at essentially the same rate; however, women who opted to take higher doses of Vitamin D (more than 600 international units a day) were 28 percent more likely to have developed invasive breast cancer than those who did not.

In situ breast cancer (cancer that had not spread) occurred a bit less often among women who took calcium and Vitamin D, as did fractures of the vertebra, but the risk reductions were described as small.

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? Post-menopausal women. As women age, especially after menopause, their bones become less dense and more brittle, making them susceptible to fracture.

Calcium, which helps build strong bones, is also thought to help maintain density, and women age 51 to 70 have been typically urged to consume 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily, whether through food sources, supplements or a combination. Vitamin D is needed to help the body absorb calcium, but it also benefits the muscles, nerves and immune system.

CAVEATS Some participants had been taking calcium and Vitamin D supplements at the start of the study and continued taking them in addition to what the study prescribed. Supplements and placebos were provided by Glaxo-SmithKline Consumer Healthcare.