For supplements, because only 8% of men reported using supplemental calcium (with most taking an ordinary daily dose), we grouped men as non-users or users.
Earlier this year, the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommended that postmenopausal women refrain from taking supplemental calcium and vitamin D, saying little evidence exists that these supplements prevent fractures in healthy women.
Randomized clinical trial evidence indicates that vitamin D supplementation (at a dose of about 400 to 800 IU/day), together with supplemental calcium, results in a modest decrease in fracture risk for women at higher fracture risk [ 87].
Second, no information was collected on the use of calcium and vitamin D supplements, and thus we could not discriminate between the effects of dietary and supplemental calcium or vitamin D on diabetes risk.
Supplemental calcium can also negatively interact with some heart and thyroid medications.
She says that combo of vitD + load bearing exercise should be enough to compensate for not taking supplemental calcium and to prevent further loss of bone density.
Additional goals were to assess differences in dietary calcium intake between supplemental calcium users and nonusers and to evaluate associations between age and calcium density in the diet.
Because most women get enough calcium in their diet and because supplementary calcium has not been shown to reduce fractures in otherwise healthy post-menopausal women, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force does not recommend supplemental calcium.
Dr. Buppasiri said that supplemental calcium did seem to help prevent pre-eclampsia, a disorder that causes dangerous increases in blood pressure in pregnant women.
All the researchers agree that, given the widespread use of supplemental calcium, better studies are needed to clarify possible risks and benefits, and to whom they may apply.
He added, however, that since many products are fortified with calcium and there can be adverse effects at high doses, people should not take more than 1,500 milligrams of supplemental calcium a day except with a doctor's prescription.
