Patient Preference

» This open, randomised, comparative study evaluated the acceptability, tolerance and compliance of two different calcium and vitamin D combinations in 190 patients (mean age 66 years) who were suitable for calcium/vitamin D therapy¹

» Patients received either two Calcia tablets, (2x 500 mg calcium and 400 IU vitamin D₃), or two sachets, (2x 500 mg calcium in the form of calcium gluconolactate and carbonate), plus 2 drops vitamin D₂ (400 IU per drop), twice daily for at least 10 weeks¹

» Treatment was defined as irregular if patients failed to take their medication 6 times in a month. The frequency of adverse events related to digestion (GI side effects) were detailed on a questionnaire which patients filled in before and after 10 weeks of treatment¹

» Proportionally fewer patients in the Calcia tablets group than in the sachets/drops group failed to take regular doses of their treatment (8.4% vs 20.2% respectively, p<0.05). The incidence of GI side effects was greater in the sachets/drops group than in the Calcia tablets group (19 vs 5 respectively; p<0.01). At the end of the study, treatment was judged ‘agreeable’ by 72.6% of patients in the Calcia tablets group compared with 41.5% of patients in the sachets/drops group (p<0.001)¹

» The superior acceptability of Calcia was confirmed in this study¹

¹ Thomas JL, Meunier PJ. Evaluation of acceptability, tolerance and observance of a new calcium-vitamin D combination. Rhumatologie 1996; 48: 37-42.

» This randomised, crossover, single-blind study compared the acceptability of chewable tablets containing 500 mg elemental calcium and 400 IU vitamin D₃ (Calcia) with that of tablets containing 600 mg elemental calcium and 400 IU vitamin D₃ in 102 elderly patients (mean age 72.6 years)¹

» Subjects were randomised to receive either 7 days' treatment with Calcia Calcium 500 mg/vitamin D₃ 400 IU followed by 7 days' treatment with the alternative calcium and vitamin D₃ preparation, or vice versa. During each treatment phase, one chewable tablet was taken twice daily. After 7 days patients assessed treatment acceptability using100 mm visual analogue scales (VAS) on the following parameters: taste, grittiness, chalkiness, ease of chewing, ease of swallowing and stickiness on teeth¹

» Out of 94 patients completing the study, 79.8% preferred Calcia Calcium 500 mg/vitamin D₃ 400 IU, 10.6% preferred the alternative calcium and vitamin D₃ tablets and 9.6% had no preference¹