Table 1.
Study design and selected baseline characteristics of randomised controlled trials of calcium intake that reported on fractures. Data are means (SD) unless stated
| Trial | Design | Calcium dose (mg/day) | Vitamin D dose | Duration | Care setting | Primary endpoint | Participants Ca/controls | Age (years) | % Female |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dietary calcium trials | |||||||||
| Chevalley 199421 | 3 arm RCT OMC/D; CaD; P/D | 800 | 300 000 IU IM stat | 18 m | Community | BMD | 62/31 | 72 (6) | 88 |
| Lau 200120 | 2 arm RCT milk powder; control | 800 | 240 IU/d | 2 y | Community | BMD | 100/100 | 57 (6) | 100 |
| Calcium supplement trials | |||||||||
| Inkovaara 198313 | 2*3 factorial RCT Ca; D; M; CaD; CaM; DM; CaDM; P | 1200 | 1000 IU/d | 12 m | Residential care | Biochemistry | 171/156 | 80 (7) | 83 |
| Hansson 198773 | 4 arm RCT 30 mg NaF/Ca; 10 mg NaF/Ca; Ca; P | 1000 | — | 3 y | Community | BMC | 25/25 | 66 (6) | 100 |
| Chapuy 1992,199415 16 | 2 arm cluster RCT CaD; P | 1200 | 800 IU/d | 3 y | Residential care | Fracture | 1634/1636 | 84 (6) | 100 |
| Reid 1993,199574 75 | 2 arm RCT Ca; P | 1000 | 4 y | Community | BMD | 68/67 | 58 (5) | 100 | |
| Chevalley 199421 | 3 arm RCT CaD; OMC/D; P/D | 800 | 300,000 IU IM stat | 18 m | Community | BMD | 62/31 | 72 (6) | 88 |
| Recker 199676 | 2 arm RCT Ca; P | 1200 | — | 4.3 y | Community | Fracture | 95/102 | 73 (7) | 100 |
| Dawson-Hughes 199777 | 2 arm RCT CaD; P | 500 | 700 IU/d | 3 y | Community | BMD | 187/202 | 71 (5) | 55 |
| Riggs 199878 | 2 arm RCT Ca; P | 1600 | — | 4 y | Community | BMD | 119/117 | 66 (3) | 100 |
| Baron 199979 80 | 2 arm RCT Ca; P | 1200 | — | 4 y | Community | Colorectal adenoma | 464/466 | 61 (9) | 28 |
| Ruml 199981 | 2 arm RCT Ca; P | 800 | — | 2 y | Community | BMD | 29/34 | 52 (4) | 100 |
| Peacock 200082 | 3 arm RCT Ca; 25OHD; P | 750 | — | 4 y | Community | BMD | 126/135 | 74 (8) | 72 |
| Chapuy 200283 | 3 arm RCT CaD; CaD; P | 1200 | 800 IU/d | 2 y | Residential care | 25OHD | 389/194 | 85 (7) | 100 |
| Avenell 200484 | 2*2 factorial RCT Ca; D; CaD; control | 1000 | 800 IU/d | 46 m | Community | Compliance/ retention | 64/70 | 77 (5) | 82 |
| Fujita 200485 | 3 arm RCT Ca; Ca; P | 900 | — | 2 y | Residential care | BMD | 38/20 | 80 (7) | 100 |
| Harwood 200486 | 4 arm RCT CaD; CaD; D; control | 1000 | 300 000 IU IM stat or 800 IU/d | 12 m | Community | Biochemistry | 75/75 | 81 | 100 |
| Larsen 200414 | 4 arm cluster RCT Env; CaD; Env/CaD; control | 1000 | 400 IU/d | 42 m | Community | Fracture | 4957/4648 | 75 | 60 |
| Grant 200587 | 2*2 factorial RCT Ca; CaD; D; P | 1000 | 800 IU/d | 45 m | Community | Fracture | 2617/2675 | 77 (6) | 85 |
| Porthouse 200588 | 2 arm RCT CaD; control | 1000 | 800 IU/d | 25 m | Community | Fracture | 1321/1993 | 77 (5) | 100 |
| Jackson 20069 | 2 arm RCT CaD; control | 1000 | 400 IU/d | 7 y | Community | Fracture | 18176/18106 | 62 (7) | 100 |
| Prince 200689 | 2 arm RCT Ca; control | 1200 | — | 5 y | Community | Fracture | 730/730 | 75 (3) | 100 |
| Reid 200690 | 2 arm RCT; Ca; control | 1000 | — | 5 y | Community | Fracture | 732/739 | 74 (4) | 100 |
| Bolton-Smith 200791 | 2*2 factorial RCT CaD; CaD/vit K; vit K; P | 1000 | 400 IU/d | 2 y | Community | BMD | 62/61 | 68 (6) | 100 |
| Bonnick 200792 | 3 arm RCT CaD/alend; CaD; Alend/D | 1000 | — | 2 y | Community | BMD | 282/281 | 66 (9) | 100 |
| Reid 200893 | 3 arm RCT Ca; Ca; P | 600 or 1200 | — | 2 y | Community | BMD | 216/107 | 56 (10) | 0 |
| Salovaara 201094 | 2 arm RCT CaD; control | 1000 | 800 IU/d | 3 y | Community | Fracture | 1718/1714 | 67 (2) | 100 |
| Sambrook 201218 | 3 arm cluster RCT Ca/UV; UV; control | 600 | UV exposure | 1 y | Residential care | Falls | 207/190 | 86 (6) | 69 |
RCT=randomised controlled trial; OMC=ossein-mineral complex (hydroxyapatite); D=vitamin D; CaD=co-administered calcium and vitamin D; P=placebo; Ca=calcium; M=methanedione; NaF=sodium fluoride; BMC=bone mineral content; BMD=bone mineral density; IM=intramuscular; 25OHD=25-hydroxyvitamin D; Env=environmental programme; vit K=vitamin K; alend= alendronate; UV=ultraviolet light.