Calcium and vitamin D supplementation do not influence menopause-related symptoms: Results of the Women's Health Initiative Trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether supplementation with calcium and vitamin D affects menopause-related symptoms in postmenopausal women.
Results Summary
The study found no significant difference in menopause-related symptoms, sleep disturbance, emotional well-being, or energy/fatigue between women taking calcium and vitamin D supplements and those taking a placebo over an average follow-up of 5.7 years.
Population
Postmenopausal women with an average age of 64 at baseline.
Effective Dosage
1000 mg elemental calcium carbonate and 400 IU vitamin D daily.
Duration
Mean follow-up of 5.7 years.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
elemental calcium carbonate 1000 mg with vitamin D 400 IU daily | no change | menopause-related symptoms | postmenopausal women with an average age of 64 at the WHI baseline visit | - | did not have a different number of symptoms | #1 |
elemental calcium carbonate 1000 mg with vitamin D 400 IU daily | no change | sleep disturbance | postmenopausal women with an average age of 64 at the WHI baseline visit | - | no difference | #2 |
elemental calcium carbonate 1000 mg with vitamin D 400 IU daily | no change | emotional well-being | postmenopausal women with an average age of 64 at the WHI baseline visit | - | no difference | #3 |
elemental calcium carbonate 1000 mg with vitamin D 400 IU daily | no change | energy/fatigue | postmenopausal women with an average age of 64 at the WHI baseline visit | - | no difference | #4 |
supplementation with 1000 mg of calcium plus 400 IU of vitamin D | no change | menopause-related symptoms | postmenopausal women with an average age of 64 at the WHI baseline visit | - | does not influence | #5 |
BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether supplementation with calcium and vitamin D has an impact on menopause-related symptoms. METHODS: As part of the Women's Health Initiative Calcium/Vitamin D Supplementation Trial (CaD), women were randomized at 40 clinical sites to elemental calcium carbonate 1000 mg with vitamin D 400 IU daily or placebo. At the CaD baseline visit (year 1 or year 2) and during a mean follow-up of 5.7 years, participants provided data on menopause-related symptoms via questionnaires. Generalized linear mixed effects techniques were used to address research questions. RESULTS: After excluding participants with missing data (N=2125), we compared menopause-related symptoms at follow-up visits of 17,101 women randomized to CaD with those of 17,056 women given the placebo. Women in the CaD arm did not have a different number of symptoms at follow-up compared to women taking the placebo (p=0.702). Similarly, there was no difference between sleep disturbance, emotional well-being, or energy/fatigue at follow-up in those who were randomized to CaD supplementation compared to those taking the placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that supplementation with 1000 mg of calcium plus 400 IU of vitamin D does not influence menopause-related symptoms over an average of 5.7 years of follow-up among postmenopausal women with an average age of 64 at the WHI baseline visit.