Posted on 09/28/2022 12:53:30 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Calcium supplementation in young adults can significantly improve bone mass, offering a potential new window for intervention to prevent osteoporosis.
"However, although calcium supplementation has been widely used in older age to increase bone mass, a number of studies suggest that it is unlikely to translate into clinically meaningful reductions in fractures. On the other hand, intervention before young adults reach peak bone density might have a greater impact on bone health and prevent osteoporosis later."
The team searched randomized controlled trials, often considered the gold standard for clinical research, comparing calcium or calcium plus vitamin D with a placebo. Specifically, they looked at results reported for bone mineral density (BMD) or bone mineral content (BMC).
Their main finding was that calcium supplements in people under 35 could significantly improve the BMD levels of both total body and femoral neck, and slightly increase the BMC of femoral neck, total body and lumbar spine. This improvement was most pronounced in people aged between 20 and 35 years compared with those younger than 20 years.
Both dietary sources of calcium and calcium supplementation had positive effects on femoral neck and total body BMD, but BMC measurements of the femoral neck and lumbar spine were only improved following calcium supplementation. There were also mixed results for the importance of vitamin D: combined calcium and vitamin D proved more beneficial on the femoral neck bone mineral density and content, but not for BMCs of lumbar spine and total body, or total body BMD.
The authors conclude that calcium supplementation can significantly improve both bone mineral density and content, especially in the neck, and that treating people with supplements during the peri–peak bone mass age has a better effect than treating them earlier or later in life.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
“It is worthwhile to take calcium supplements at an earlier age.”
It’s important to protect your bone strength and guard against fractures as you age, but taking a supplement isn’t the best way to do that, says Erin Michos, MD, MHS , associate director of preventive cardiology for the Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease.
Recent studies have linked calcium supplements with an increased risk of colon polyps (small growths in the large intestine that can become cancerous) and kidney stones, which are hard masses usually formed in the kidneys from an accumulation of calcium and other substances. Additionally, a 2016 study by Michos and her colleagues suggested that calcium supplements may increase the risk of calcium buildup in the heart’s arteries.
“The body can’t process more than 500 milligrams of calcium at a time. If you take a supplement with more than that, your body has to do something with the excess. It’s possible that higher calcium levels in the blood could trigger blood clots or that calcium could be deposited along artery walls, which would contribute to the narrowing of blood vessels.”
wy69
Take the D3 with K2. K2 pushes the calcium into your bones and keeps it from clogging your arteries.
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Heard the same thing from Joe Weider in the late 1950s...
So, what else is new?
I did benefit from water buffalo milk growing up in India. It is richer than cow’s milk in nutrients. But never been good about taking any calcium supplements in my life. I am sure my regular treadmill exercise is helping keep bones strong, now in my 80’s. Never had a bone fracture while downhill skiing where I took quite a few wipeouts. I have no balance issues in 80’s thanks to regular treadmill.
I take a strontium tablet every month or so.
Suppose to create really strong bones.
Interesting thing is if people actually were able, or took the time, to figure out their nutrients intake, they would be surprised that they got so much with food and how much of it they took too much in. I don’t thing anyone needs over 100% of their daily allotment. As you can see, bigger is not always better.
wy69
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