The relationship between hip fractures and aluminium in antacids and cooking pots was examined in an epidemiological study in Sydney, Australia. A population-based case-control study was conducted and 416 men and women aged 65 years and over were recruited (209 cases and 207 controls). There was a significantly (p < 0.05) increased risk of hip fracture associated with use of aluminium cooking pots at age 20 years: the age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio was 1.9 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-3.2]. No association was detected between risk of hip fracture and current use of aluminium cooking pots or use at age 50. There was some suggestion that long-term use of aluminium-containing antacids might increase the risk of hip fracture: the adjusted odds ratio comparing those who had used aluminium-containing antacids for more than 10 years with those who had never used them was 1.8 (95% CI 0.8-4.1). The findings of this study support the need for further research on the association between oral ingestion of aluminium and risk of hip fracture.