Table 4 .

Summary of selected characteristics of eligible trials of calcium intake. Data are number (percentage) of trials

Characteristics of randomised controlled trials	Dietary sources of calcium (n=15)	Calcium supplements (n=51)
Agent studied:
Calcium monotherapy	11 (73)	36 (71)
Calcium with vitamin D	4 (27)	13 (25)
Multi-arm study with calcium or calcium+vitamin D	0	2 (4)
Calcium dose ≥1000 mg/d	6 (40)	34 (67)
Calcium dose ≤500 mg/d	2 (13)	7 (14)
Duration ≤2 years	15 (100)	37 (73)
Duration ≥3 years	0	13 (25)
Participants living in community	15 (100)	45 (88)
Most participants women	13 (87)	48 (94)
Baseline mean age ≥70	2 (13)	18 (35)
Baseline mean dietary calcium intake <800 mg/d	9/13 (69)	26/39 (67)