Calcium was more effective than placebo in reducing rates of bone loss after two or more years of treatment .
REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS Calcium supplementation alone has a small positive effect on bone density .
The data show a trend toward reduction in vertebral fractures , but it is unclear if calcium reduces the incidence of non vertebral fractures
BACKGROUND Although calcium is one the simplest and least expensive strategies for preventing osteoporotic fractures calcium supplementation is nevertheless not without controversy ( Kanis 1989 ; Nordin 1990 ) .
The Food and Drug Administration in the US has permitted a bone health cl aim for calcium-rich foods , and the NIH in its Consensus Development Process approved a statement that high calcium intake reduces the risk of osteoporosis .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of calcium on bone density and fractures in postmenopausal women .
The rate of bone mineral loss in normal men and the effects of calcium and cholecalciferol supplementation.
OBJECTIVE To determine the rate of bone loss in normal men , and to examine the effects of dietary calcium and cholecalciferol supplementation on bone loss in men . DESIGN Double-blinded , placebo-controlled 3-year trial of supplementation with calcium ( 1000 mg/d ) and cholecalciferol ( 25 micrograms/d ) . SETTING Clinical research center at a university medical facility . SUBJECTS Normal men 30 to 87 years old , recruited from the Portl and community . MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Radial bone mineral content ( assessed by single-photon absorptiometry ) fell by 1.0%/y ( 95 % CI , -1.3 % to 0.7 % ) at a proximal radial site and 1.0%/y ( 95 % CI , -1.4 % to -0.6 % ) at a distal radial site . Vertebral bone mineral content ( assessed by dual-energy quantitative computed tomography ) declined by 2.3%/y ( 95 % CI , -2.8 % to -1.8 % ) . In these healthy men with a high basal dietary calcium intake ( 1159 mg/d ) , calcium and cholecalciferol supplementation did not affect bone loss at any site . CONCLUSIONS Normal men experience a substantial bone loss at both axial and appendicular sites that is not prevented by calcium and vitamin D supplementation in a well-nourished population
Calcium was more effective than placebo in reducing rates of bone loss after two or more years of treatment .
REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS Calcium supplementation alone has a small positive effect on bone density .
The data show a trend toward reduction in vertebral fractures , but it is unclear if calcium reduces the incidence of non vertebral fractures
BACKGROUND Although calcium is one the simplest and least expensive strategies for preventing osteoporotic fractures calcium supplementation is nevertheless not without controversy ( Kanis 1989 ; Nordin 1990 ) .
The Food and Drug Administration in the US has permitted a bone health cl aim for calcium-rich foods , and the NIH in its Consensus Development Process approved a statement that high calcium intake reduces the risk of osteoporosis .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of calcium on bone density and fractures in postmenopausal women .