Calcium, vitamin D may reduce stress fracture risk

The study, presented at the 53rd annual Orthopedic Research Society meeting in San Diego, were obtained from a randomized, double-blind study with 5,201 female U.S. Navy recruits during eight weeks of basic training.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, the results of the study suggest that daily supplements of vitamin D and calcium may also provide benefits for those engaged in athletic training. One group received a daily supplement of 2,000 Mg of calcium and 800 IU of vitamin D, and the other group received a placebo. At the end of the eight weeks of basic training, 170 women in the placebo group experienced stress fractures; 25 per cent more women than in the calcium/vitamin D supplemented group.