Calcium and bone health: position statement for the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society, Osteoporosis Australia and the Endocrine Society of Australia

Abstract

This position statement was prepared by the Working Group of the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society and Osteoporosis Australia. The final statement was endorsed by the Endocrine Society of Australia. Currently, the balance of evidence remains in favour of fracture prevention from combined calcium and vitamin D supplementation in elderly men and women. Adequate vitamin D status is essential for active calcium absorption in the gut and for bone development and remodelling. In adults with a baseline calcium intake of 500–900 mg/day, increasing or supplementing this intake by a further 500–1000 mg/day has a beneficial effect on bone mineral density. Calcium intake significantly above the recommended level is unlikely to achieve additional benefit for bone health.

Palm Tocotrienol Supplementation Enhanced Bone Formation in Oestrogen-Deficient Rats

“…However, the relative risk reduction for osteoporotic fracture is likely to be no more than 10%–20%. Although inadequate calcium intake is likely to be deleterious to bone, calcium intake significantly above the recommended level is unlikely to achieve additional benefit for bone health [16]. This is in agreement with our study which did not find any significant improvement in bone formation in rats supplemented with calcium.…”

“…For about the first five years after menopause, women lose bone mass at the rate of about 2% to 3% per year and then continue to lose about 1% of bone mass per year to the end of life. Hence, postmenopausal women are prone to osteoporosis [16]. …”

“…We have successfully used this mode of administration of calcium in our earlier studies [14, 26, 27]. In addition, Sanders et al [16] mentioned that the benefits of calcium treatment are more consistent in late postmenopausal women than in perimenopausal women, perhaps because of greater variation in the rate of bone loss amongst perimenopausal women. In the present study, the menopausal state in rats was induced by ovariectomy.…”

“…Calcium supplementation has been used as treatment for osteoporosis. In adults with a baseline calcium intake of 500–900 mg/day, increasing or supplementing this intake by a further 500–1000 mg/day has a beneficial effect on bone mineral density [16]. …”

Associations between dairy food consumption and chronic kidney disease in older adults

“…Conversely an inadequate intake of dairy foods and calcium has been linked with reductions in bone mass and increased risk of osteoporosis5, increased risk of age-related macular degeneration6, poorer retinal microvascular profile7 and lower levels of adiponectin (an anti-inflammatory cytokine)8. Given that systemic risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension have also been linked with chronic kidney disease (CKD)9, there is a potential for regular dairy product consumption to modify renal function in older adults.…”