Background The use of calcium supplements slows bone loss inthe forearm and has a beneficial effect on the axial bone densityof women in late menopause whose calcium intake is less than400 mg per day. However, the effect of a calcium supplementof 1000 mg per day on the axial bone density of postmenopausalwomen with higher calcium intakes is not known.
Methods We studied 122 normal women at least three years afterthey had reached menopause who had a mean dietary calcium intakeof 750 mg per day. The women were randomly assigned to treatmentwith either calcium (1000 mg per day) or placebo for two years.The bone mineral density of the total body, lumbar spine, andproximal femur was measured every six months by dual-energyx-ray absorptiometry. Serum and urine indexes of calcium metabolismwere measured at base line and after 3, 12, and 24 months.
Results The mean (±SE) rate of loss of total-body bonemineral density was reduced by 43 percent in the calcium group(-0.0055 ±0.0010 g per square centimeter per year) ascompared with the placebo group (-0.0097 ±0.0010 g persquare centimeter per year, P = 0.005). The rate of loss ofbone mineral density was reduced by 35 percent in the legs (P= 0.02), and loss was eliminated in the trunk (P = 0.04). Calciumuse was of significant benefit in the lumbar spine (P = 0.04),and in Ward's triangle the rate of loss was reduced by 67 percent(P = 0.04). Calcium supplementation had a similar effect whetherdietary calcium intake was above or below the mean value forthe group. Serum parathyroid hormone concentrations tended tobe lower in the calcium group, as were urinary hydroxyprolineexcretion and serum alkaline phosphatase concentrations.
Conclusions Calcium supplementation significantly slowed axialand appendicular bone loss in normal postmenopausal women.
Source Information
From the Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, where reprint requests should be addressed to Dr. Reid.
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