A 1-year walking program and increased dietary calcium in postmenopausal women: effects on bone

Article Abstract:

Osteoporosis is characterized by a loss of bone mass and an increased susceptibility to bone fracture. Fractures are most common in the hips, wrists and spine. It is estimated that 1.3 million fractures are caused by osteoporosis each year in people over the age of 45. Also, it is estimated that one-third of all women over the age of 65 will experience a spine or hip fracture. Previous studies have reported a greater incidence of bone fractures in populations where dietary calcium intake is low. It has been suggested that the risk of bone fracture may be reduced by taking calcium supplements and increasing physical activity. Therefore, a study was performed to determine the effects of calcium supplements and physical activity on bone loss in 36 postmenopausal women (average age, 60 years). The women were divided into four different groups: exercise and moderate dietary calcium; exercise and high dietary calcium; no exercise and moderate dietary calcium; and no exercise and high dietary calcium. The exercise program involved walking for 50 minutes per day, four days a week, for 52 weeks. All subjects followed a diet that included 800 milligrams of calcium per day. The high calcium diet included an additional 831 milligrams per day in a high-calcium milk drink, and the moderate calcium diet included a low-calcium drink with 41 milligrams of calcium. Computed tomography (CT scan) and dual-photon absorptiometry were used to measure bone mineral density (BMD). BMD in the lower (lumbar) region of the spine increased by less than 1 percent in the women who exercised and decreased by 7 percent in those who did not exercise (18 women per group). High dietary calcium increased BMD in the femur (the thigh bone) by 2 percent, while moderate dietary calcium decreased BMD by 1 percent. It is concluded that exercise and dietary calcium may have beneficial effects on BMD. It is recommended that women who are sedentary increase their level of physical activity and increase their intake of dietary calcium. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Prevention, Exercise therapy

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Spinal bone density and calcium intake in healthy postmenopausal women

Article Abstract:

Osteoporosis is a reduction in bone mass that causes bones to become fragile. It is a major health concern in postmenopausal women, and in 1983, it was estimated that 15 to 20 million Americans had osteoporosis. Many studies have attempted to determine the relationship between dietary calcium and the loss of bone mass that occurs during osteoporosis. However, these studies have produced conflicting results. It has been reported that taking calcium supplements shortly after the onset of menopause does not improve bone mass or density. It is less clear if calcium supplements given several years after menopause begins can improve bone mass or density. Therefore, a study was conducted of 131 healthy women in late postmenopause (average age of 64 years). The amount of calcium consumed in the normal diet and the bone mineral density (BMD, a measure of bone mass and fragility) of the spine were determined for each subject. The normal daily diet of the women contained an average of 606 milligrams of calcium per day. The women who had been consuming less than 606 milligrams of calcium per day had significantly lower BMD and weighed an average of 1.8 pounds less than those who had been consuming more than that. BMD was found to be related to body weight and dietary calcium intake. The results of this study support the theory that calcium intake in the diet is related to bone health in postmenopausal women, and suggest that dietary calcium intake should be increased in many cases. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Aging, Food and nutrition

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Calcium supplementation and bone loss: a review of controlled clinical trials

Article Abstract:

Within the years following menopause, women experience a period of rapid bone loss. Bone loss has been shown to occur in the forearm, hip and spine. Many studies have shown that bone fractures are more common in postmenopausal women than in women who have not reached menopause, and that the amount of calcium in the body decreases after menopause. Since calcium is required for bone growth and strength, many studies have examined whether calcium supplements reduce the risk of bone fractures in postmenopausal women. These studies have shown that calcium supplements, in amounts ranging from 800 to 1,500 milligrams per day for two to three years, can reduce the rate of bone loss in the forearm bones of postmenopausal women. However, these studies also showed that calcium supplements did not reduce the rate of bone loss from the spine. Although hip fractures are one of the most common types of fractures in older women, it is not known whether calcium supplements can protect against loss of bone mass in the hip. Very few studies have examined whether calcium supplements offer protection from bone loss in older postmenopausal women. The results of one study suggest that calcium supplements (500 milligrams per day) can reduce the loss of bone from the spine of older postmenopausal women who do not get enough calcium in their diets. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Demographic aspects, Aged women, Elderly women, Fractures (Injuries), Calcium metabolism

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