[Research subject]

Murakami cohort study

[Description]
We set up a large scale cohort study on age-related diseases, including osteoporotic fractures, osteoarthritis, and dementia. We targeted all people aged between 40 and 74 years, resided in Murakami City, Sekikawa Village, and Awashimaura Village in Niigata Prefecture. As a baseline investigation, 14,370people participated in the lifestyles questionnaire survey, and 8,498 people provided a blood sample. We have successfully set up the cohort study, and started follow-up.
http://www.med.niigata-u.ac.jp/hyg/murakami/index.html

[Research subject]

Prevention of osteoporosis

[Description]
To determine the effect of vitamin D on the prevention of osteoporosis, we conducted a 6-year cohort study in Muramatsu, Gosen City. The subjects were 775 women 70 years of age or older. We measured blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 [OH] D) levels at baseline. We divided subjects based on the levels of blood 25 (OH) D into four groups. We found that the fracture risk in the highest 25 (OH) D level (≥71 nmol/L) group was significantly reduced. This result suggests that vitamin D treatment is effective for preventing fractures due to accidental falls.
（Osteoporos Int 2012）

[Research subject]

Preventive effects of vitamin D and calcium on diseases

[Description]
To determine the effects of calcium (Ca) supplements on the prevention of bone mineral density loss in postmenopausal women, we conducted a 2-year randomized control study. A total of 450 subjects were randomly assigned to 1) supplementation with Ca 250 mg/day, 2) supplementation with Ca 500 mg/day, or 3) placebo. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed and supplementation with Ca 500 mg/day was shown to suppress lumbar bone mineral density loss, but did not show a definite effect on the bone density of femoral necks. These results suggest that appropriate supplementation with Ca may be effective for the prevention of osteoporosis in the lumbar spines of postmenopausal women.
（J Bone Miner Res 2012）