Calcium and Vitamin D Malnutrition in Elderly Women

We are conducting a 4-year randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial of calcium or calcium with vitamin D supplementation. We randomly sampled the population of healthy, independent living women 55+ years in nine rural counties. We randomly assigned 1180 women to one of three groups: Group 1 receives calcium (1400 mg/d) and vitamin D placebo, Group 2 receives both calcium (1400 mg/d) and vitamin D (1100 IU/d) and Group 3 receives both placebos.

A full-service market research firm randomly selected telephone numbers from all households with listed numbers in the nine-county rural sample area. The firm continued calling until 1180 women were selected who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were willing to participate in a four year prospective study of calcium and vitamin D supplementation. The participants were enrolled into study between May 2000 and July 2001.

Participants have study visits every six months. Annually the following are performed: bone density scans, height and weight, brief medical history including medicine changes, fracture surveillance, and compliance with calcium and vitamin D. At baseline and end of study, spine x-rays and dietary recall were obtained.

Inclusion criteria

healthy women ages 55 and older who were at least four years postmenopausal living independently in a nine-county rural area of Nebraska

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Exclusion criteria

• chronic kidney disease, 2) Paget's metabolic bone disease, and 3) history of cancer except for superficial basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and

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