Calcium and Bone.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the necessity and effectiveness of calcium supplementation in maintaining skeletal health and preventing osteoporosis.
Results Summary
The study found weak evidence linking low calcium intake to osteoporosis development and no significant change in fracture risk with increased calcium intake. It also noted that clinical trials do not support the necessity of calcium supplements when using osteoporosis treatments like estrogens and bisphosphonates.
Population
Healthy community-dwelling adults and individuals treated for osteoporosis.
Effective Dosage
300 to 2,000 mg/day (mentioned as adaptable range, not study-specific dosage).
Duration
Not specified.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
low calcium intakes | increase | osteoporosis development | - | - | contribute to | #1 |
increasing these intakes | no change | fracture risk | - | - | significantly changes | #2 |
calcium supplements | neutral | - | healthy community-dwelling adults | - | does not support the use of | #3 |
supplements of calcium and vitamin D | neutral | drug treatments for osteoporosis | - | - | are given with | #4 |
estrogens and bisphosphonates | decrease | fracture risk | - | - | demonstrate anti-fracture efficacy | #5 |
calcium supplements | neutral | - | contemporary medical practice | - | have only a minor place in | #6 |
The maintenance of extracellular calcium levels within a narrow range is necessary for normal function of the nervous system, muscle, and coagulation, to maintain mineralization of the skeleton but to avoid calcification of soft tissues. Accordingly, absorption and excretion of calcium is closely regulated, and adult humans can adapt to a wide range of calcium intakes from 300 to 2,000 mg/day. The evidence that low calcium intakes contribute to osteoporosis development is weak, as is evidence that increasing these intakes significantly changes fracture risk. Consistent with this view, the United States Preventive Services Task Force does not support the use of calcium supplements in healthy community-dwelling adults. While some groups continue to recommend that supplements of calcium and vitamin D are given with drug treatments for osteoporosis, this view is not supported by clinical trials which demonstrate anti-fracture efficacy of estrogens and bisphosphonates in the absence of such supplementation. Thus, calcium supplements have only a minor place in contemporary medical practice.