A new analysis of multiple studies has emerged that suggests that consuming increased amounts of calcium does not have an appreciable effect on the risk of bone fractures for patients with osteoporosis. The analysis covered collective data on just under 14,000 patients and concluded that calcium intake increased beyond the daily recommended 1000-1200 mg/day increases bone density by only 1 to 2 percent, a gain not appreciable enough to significantly mitigate the risk of bone fracture. Additionally, scientists working on this data compilation were quick to point out that increased calcium intake is not free of unwanted side effects--patients have experienced a range of symptoms from constipation to kidney stones and cardiovascular troubles. Their overall suggestion: if your diet follows recommended nutrient guidelines there is no need for further calcium supplementation.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/10/05/study-reviews-find-calcium-doesnt-improve-bone-density/
and
http://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4183
and
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-well-does-calcium-intake-really-protect-your-bones-201509308384?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialmedia&utm_campaign=093015kr2&utm_content=blog
This whole intake and bioavailability argument has been going on forever. It has been known that when you consume an enormous amount of vitamins or minerals, past what your body can use, the excess leads to your body having to work harder and the excess eventually getting excreted through your urine. This is the same with protein. Many people believe the more protein you ingest the more muscles you will build and the stronger you will become. But, in all actuality a diet high in protein leads to multiple problems that can occur. It leads to higher nitrogen in your urine, it makes your liver work harder to breakdown the nitrogen which can potential lead to liver problems, it causes more calcium to get urinated out which causes slower muscle contractions and can potential cause bones to get weaker. I personally think you can't just look at calcium intake as a singular thing. You need to look at all the other processes in the body that affect the ability to use calcium or affect the ability for calcium to stay in the system for a longer period of time. If these people were on, for instance, a high protein diet this increase in calcium could have meant nothing because it was all getting urinated out.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting concept! I always thought increased calcium prevented things like osteoporosis. It does make me wonder if children get an increased amount of calcium in their diet, if that will prevent them from getting osteoporosis and increased fractures when they become older, such as over the age of 50, or if they should just be striving to get the recommended amount of calcium in their diet. Then it also makes me wonder, if increased calcium at a young age does help, at what age does increased calcium not help? This is interesting because I personally have taken calcium supplements for quite some time now because I don't get enough calcium in my diet (or I don't think I do anyways) so it makes me wonder if I didn't take those supplements if I would have a higher risk of having low bone density when I get around the age of 50-60, or if it really wouldn't make a difference.
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