Calcium and Bone Loss

Effect of calcium supplementation on bone loss in postmenopausal women.

Article Summary:

This is a review of the study on the effectiveness of calcium supplementation on bone loss in postmenopausal women. There are 122 healthy women participated in the study, each had reached menopause for at least three years. These women had a mean dietary calcium intake of 750 mg per day. A random treatment of either 1000 mg of calcium per day or placebo was assigned for two years. The bone mineral density of the total body, lumbar spine, and proximal femur was measured every six months by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum and urine indexes of calcium metabolism were also measured. The results show that the calcium group appeared to have its rate of loss of total-body bone mineral density reduced by 43 percent. Serum parathyroid hormone concentrations also found lower in the calcium group. The study concluded that calcium supplementation can significantly slow down the axial and appendicular bone loss in post-menopausal women.

Authors:

Reid IR, Ames RW, Evans MC, Gamble GD, Sharpe SJ.

Insititution:

Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Country of Publication:

New Zealand

Source:

The New England Journal of Medicine. 328(7):460-4, 1993 February. NIH

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