Calcium, vitamin D supplementation, and physical function in the Women's Health Initiative

Robert L Brunner; Barbara Cochrane; Rebecca D Jackson; Joseph Larson; Cora Lewis; Marian Limacher; Milagros Rosal; Sally Shumaker; Robert Wallace; Women's Health Initiative Investigators

doi:10.1016/j.jada.2008.06.432

Journal article

Calcium, vitamin D supplementation, and physical function in the Women's Health Initiative

Robert L Brunner, Barbara Cochrane, Rebecca D Jackson, Joseph Larson, Cora Lewis, Marian Limacher, Milagros Rosal, Sally Shumaker, Robert Wallace and Women's Health Initiative Investigators

Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Vol.108(9), pp.1472-1479

09/2008

DOI: 10.1016/j.jada.2008.06.432

PMCID: PMC3875323

PMID: 18755319

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/3875323View

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Abstract

The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) randomized trial of calcium/vitamin D supplementation found reduced bone loss with active treatment compared to placebo. Now we examine whether the treatment affected self-reported physical functioning and objective measures of physical functioning. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 1,000 mg calcium carbonate plus 400 IU vitamin D(3) per day or matching placebo pills. The study included 33,067 women (50 to 79 years old) at 40 US study centers. Physical functioning was assessed by questionnaire at enrollment in WHI, 1 year prior to calcium/vitamin D trial randomization and at study close-out (average follow-up 7.1 years). Objective physical performance and self-reported exercise measures were collected at WHI baseline (1 year prior to calcium/vitamin D enrollment) and 2 years and 4 years after calcium/vitamin D trial enrollment in a subsample (n=3,137). Calcium/vitamin D effects were tested in unadjusted and interaction linear models for each of the physical function measures. Covariates were baseline total calcium intake, fracture risk score, treatment arm in the hormone therapy and dietary modification trials (ie, active drug or placebo, low-fat diet intervention or usual diet, respectively) and age. Neither intention to treat nor high adherence analyses produced substantial effects of calcium/vitamin D compared to placebo on physical functioning or performance. The interaction analyses also did not result in differences because of calcium/vitamin D. As the first long-term randomized trial to examine the effectiveness of calcium and vitamin D in protecting against decline of physical functioning in older women, the results did not support benefit.

Women's Health

Double-Blind Method

United States

Humans

Middle Aged

Fractures, Bone - epidemiology

Aging - psychology

Linear Models

Bone Density Conservation Agents - administration & dosage

Activities of Daily Living

Aging - physiology

Calcium, Dietary - administration & dosage

Postmenopause

Female

Vitamin D - administration & dosage

Aged

Dietary Supplements

Details

Title: Subtitle: Calcium, vitamin D supplementation, and physical function in the Women's Health Initiative
Creators: Robert L Brunner - University of Nevada School of Medicine, PMB 251, MS 145, Reno, NV 89557, USA. bbrunner@medicine.nevada.edu
Barbara Cochrane
Rebecca D Jackson
Joseph Larson
Cora Lewis
Marian Limacher
Milagros Rosal
Sally Shumaker
Robert Wallace
Women's Health Initiative Investigators
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Vol.108(9), pp.1472-1479
DOI: 10.1016/j.jada.2008.06.432
PMID: 18755319
PMCID: PMC3875323
NLM abbreviation: J Am Diet Assoc
ISSN: 0002-8223
eISSN: 1878-3570
Publisher: United States
Grant note: N01 WH042113 / WHI NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 09/2008
Academic Unit: Epidemiology; Injury Prevention Research Center; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9983996186702771

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