Calcium and vitamin-D supplementation on bone structural properties in peripubertal female identical twins: A randomised controlled trial

Summary: A randomised controlled trial was used in assessing the impact of 6 months of daily calcium and vitamin-D supplementation on trabecular and cortical bone acquisition at distal tibial and radial sites using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Daily supplementation was associated with increased bone density and bone strength at the distal tibia and radius.

Introduction: pQCT has not been used to assess bone responses to calcium and vitamin-D supplementation on peripubertal children. This randomised controlled trial aimed to assess the impact of a 6-month daily calcium and vitamin-D supplementation on trabecular and cortical bone acquisition at distal tibial and radial sites using pQCT.

Methods: Twenty pairs of peripubertal female identical twins, aged 9 to 13 years, were randomly assigned to receive either 800 mg of calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D3, or a matched placebo. Bone structural properties at the distal tibia and distal radius were acquired at baseline and 6 months.

Results: The calcium-supplemented group showed greater gains in trabecular density, trabecular area and strength strain index at the 4% of distal tibial and radial sites compared with the placebo group (p = 0.001). Greater gains in cortical area at the 38% and 66% of tibial sites were also found in twins receiving the calcium supplement (p = 0.001).

Conclusions: Daily supplementation for a period of 6 months was associated with increased trabecular area, trabecular density and strength strain index at the ultra-distal tibia and radius and increased cortical area at tibial mid-shaft.