Systematic Review and Meta Analysis: Calcium Supplements Alone or with Vitamin D for Preventative Treatment of Osteoporotic Fractures in Older People, Fish Oil Supplements Alone or with Statins to Improve Lipid Levels

The Australian Self Medication Industry (ASMI), in partnership with the Department of Health and Ageing, commissioned this project in 2006 to consolidate and review the evidence for selected complementary medicines in the prevention and/or treatment of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Whilst over 50% of Australians use complementary medicines, often in conjunction with other medications, the information available to GPs and consumers about these medicines is often disparate, conflicting and generally not well consolidated. This project is comprised of two separate studies- the systematic review and meta-analysis of existing research on the effect of 1) calcium supplements (alone or in combination with vitamin D) for osteoporosis- specifically the prevention of fractures and loss of bone mineral density, and 2) fish oils (alone or in combination with statins) for cardiovascular disease - specifically elevated blood lipid levels.