Calcium supplements  increased BMD by 0.7 - 1.8 % at all five skeletal sites at one , two , and over two and a half years , but the size of the increase in BMD at later time points was similar to the increase at one year .
Increasing calcium intake from dietary sources or by taking calcium supplements produces small non-progressive increases in BMD , which are unlikely to lead to a clinical ly significant reduction in risk of fracture
OBJECTIVE To determine whether increasing calcium intake from dietary sources affects  bone mineral density ( BMD ) and , if so , whether the effects are similar to those of calcium supplements .
Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation Increases Spinal BMD in Healthy, Postmenopausal Women

Abstract : We undertook a double-masked , r and omized , placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effect of a calcium and vitamin D supplement and a calcium supplement plus multivitamins on bone loss at the hip , spine and forearm . The study was performed in 240 healthy women , 58–67 years of age . Duration of treatment was 2 years . Bone mineral density ( BMD ) was measured at the lumbar spine , hip and forearm . A dietary question naire was administered twice during the study and revealed a fairly good calcium and vitamin D intake ( 919 mg calcium/day ; 3.8 mg vitamin D/day ) . An increase in lumbar spine BMD of 1.6 % was observed in the treatment group after 2 years ( p50.002 ) . In the placebo group no significant changes were observed during the 2 years . Lumbar spine BMD was significantly higher in the treatment group at both 1 ( p50.01 ) and 2 years ( p50.05 ) compared with the placebo group . Though not significant , the same trend was seen at the hip . No significant changes from baseline values were observed at the distal forearm in either the treatment or the placebo group . In conclusion , we found a significant increase in urinary calcium excretion in the treatment group compared with the placebo group . Together with significant changes in serum calcium and serum parathyroid hormone , this indicates that a long-term calcium and vitamin supplement of 1 g elementary calcium ( calcium carbonate ) and 14 mg vitamin D3 increases intestinal calcium absorption . A positive effect on BMD was demonstrated , even in a group of early postmenopausal age , with a fairly good initial calcium and vitamin D status
Calcium supplements  increased BMD by 0.7 - 1.8 % at all five skeletal sites at one , two , and over two and a half years , but the size of the increase in BMD at later time points was similar to the increase at one year .
Increasing calcium intake from dietary sources or by taking calcium supplements produces small non-progressive increases in BMD , which are unlikely to lead to a clinical ly significant reduction in risk of fracture
OBJECTIVE To determine whether increasing calcium intake from dietary sources affects  bone mineral density ( BMD ) and , if so , whether the effects are similar to those of calcium supplements .