The impact of dietary calcium intake and vitamin D status on the effects of zoledronate.

unlabelledWe investigated whether baseline dietary calcium intake or vitamin D status modified the effects of zoledronate. Neither variable influenced the effect of zoledronate on bone mineral density, bone turnover, or risk of acute phase reaction, suggesting that co-administration of calcium and vitamin D supplements with zoledronate may not always be necessary.

introductionCalcium and vitamin D supplements are often co-administered with bisphosphonates, but it is unclear whether they are necessary for therapeutic efficacy or minimizing side effects of bisphosphonates. We investigated whether baseline dietary calcium intake or vitamin D status modified the effect of zoledronate on bone mineral density (BMD) or bone turnover at 1 year, or the risk of acute phase reactions (APR).

methodsData were pooled from two trials of zoledronate in postmenopausal women without vitamin D deficiency in which calcium and vitamin D were not routinely administered. The cohort (zoledronate n = 154, placebo n = 68) was divided into subgroups by baseline dietary calcium intake (<800 vs. ≥800 mg/day) and vitamin D status [25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) <50 vs. ≥50 nmol/L, and <75 nmol/L vs. ≥75 nmol/L] and treatment × subgroup interactions tested.

resultsThere were 52, 86, and 36 % of the zoledronate group and 64, 94, and 46 % of the placebo group that had dietary calcium intake ≥800 mg/day, 25OHD ≥50 nmol/L, and 25OHD ≥75 nmol/L, respectively. There were no significant interactions between treatment and either baseline dietary calcium or baseline vitamin D status for lumbar spine BMD, total hip BMD, the bone turnover markers P1NP and β-CTx, or the risk of an APR. There was also no three-way interaction between baseline dietary calcium intake, baseline vitamin D status, and treatment for any of these variables.

conclusionsBaseline dietary calcium intake and vitamin D status did not alter the effects of zoledronate, suggesting that co-administration of calcium and vitamin D with zoledronate may not be necessary for individuals not at risk of marked vitamin D deficiency.