[Calcium and vitamin D for the treatment of osteoporosis]

Clinical studies conducted in US or European countries have revealed that supplement of calcium and vitamin D brocks the decrease in bone mass and the frequency of fractures among aged osteoporosis patients and that nutritional sufficiency is closely related to the severity of osteoporotic symtonis. It might be important to evaluate the nutritional status in Japan as well. On the other hand, active vitamin D drugs are useful to treating osteoporosis with their anti-catabolic and anti-fracture activities. As animal experiments showed that bone effect could be separable from calcemic effect, novel vitamin D derivative with bone directing activities is eagerly expected.