Calcium Supplementation and Bone Loss Calcium supplementation with and without hormone replacement therapy to prevent postmenopausal bone loss.
Article Summary: This is a review of the study that determines the effectiveness
of dietary calcium in the prevention of early postmenopausal bone
loss. The study included a three-arm, placebo-controlled, randomized
parallel trial, and the duration of the study was anywhere between
1.8 to 4 years. There were total of 118 healthy white women participated
in the study. These women have experienced 3 to 6 years of spontaneous
menopause. The study randomly allocates 1,700 mg of calcium, placebo,
or conjugated equine estrogens, progesterone, and 1,700 mg of elemental
calcium daily. Each participant also received 400 IU of vitamin
D daily. Total body calcium was measured by delayed gamma neutron
activation analysis and whole-body counting; bone mineral density
of the spine, femur, and radius were also measured by using photon
absorptiometry. The results show that the |
bone mineral density declined in the placebo group. Although calcium augmentation appears to be less effective than estrogen-progesterone-calcium, but it significantly slowed down the rate of bone loss from the femoral neck and improved calcium balance in postmenopausal women. The study recommended dietary calcium augmentation in helping to prevent early postmenopausal bone loss. Authors: Insititution: Country of Publication: Source: |
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