Vitamin D in combination with calcium can reduce the rate of mortality in seniors, thereby providing a possible means of increasing life expectancy, according to an analysis.

Danish researchers analyzed eight studies that each randomized more than 1,000 patients to either vitamin D alone or vitamin D with calcium. The patient data set was 87% women and had a median age of 70.

During a three-year period, death was reduced by 9% in those treated with vitamin D plus calcium. Treating 151 patients for three years with that combination would prevent one death beyond what would have been expected without treatment.The researchers did not find evidence of reduced mortality in patients on vitamin D alone.

The study’s lead author, Lars Rejnmark, PhD, of Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, noted that other studies have suggested calcium supplements can have adverse effects on cardiovascular health (one such study appears in the June issue of the journal Heart — see Nurse.com’s report on that study at http://bit.ly/LNFU7G).

"Although our study does not rule out such effects, we found that calcium with vitamin D supplementation to elderly participants is not harmful to survival, and may have beneficial effects on general health," he said.

The researchers did not draw conclusions as to reasons for the association between vitamin D and calcium supplementation and a reduced mortality risk. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently stated it did not have sufficient evidence to recommend vitamin D with calcium as a preventive treatment for cancer and osteoporotic fractures (see Nurse.com’s report at http://bit.ly/MPhtSh.

The study appeared May 17 on the website of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. To read the abstract and access the study via subscription or purchase, visit http://bit.ly/MnORSQ.