Increasing dietary calcium does not prevent bone fractures. This is evidenced by two meta-analyzes published by the British Medical Journal and underlined by the experts of the Physicians Commettee for Responsible Medicine.
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The increase of football in the diet does not prevent bone fractures. Two highlight this meta-analysis published by the British Medical Journal and the experts of the Physicians Commettee for Responsible Medicine underline it.
Researchers from New Zealand reviewed existing scientific literature to evaluate current recommendations for daily calcium intake through diet and supplements.
La first meta-analysis looked at existing studies of dietary calcium intake and calcium supplementation and found no consistent evidence showing that calcium supplementation and dairy intake prevent bone fractures.
La second meta-analysis showed a modest increase in bone strength through increased calcium intake with diet or supplements. However, this is too small an increase (1-2%) to suggest any reduction in the risk of fractures. According to experts, this small increase in bone density is unlikely to lead to a clinically significant reduction in fracture risk.
Healthcare organizations should now consider both new meta-analyzes for reconsider the basics of calcium intake guidelines which should be aimed at protecting the health of citizens.
These guidelines should be free of bias and above all not influenced by marketing and they should consider any side effects of excessive calcium intake. In fact the excess calcium risks to accumulate in the arterial walls increasing the heart disease and to foster the development of kidney stones.
In particular, the assumption of calcium supplements equal to 1000 mg daily given to volunteers over the age of 50 led to side effects such as development of kidney stones, acute gastrointestinal symptoms and cardiovascular problemsi, as New Zealand scientists from the University of Auckland who worked under the leadership of Ian Reid pointed out.
According to the experts' conclusions, the results of the new meta-analyzes suggest that an increase in calcium intake through supplements or dietary sources it should not be recommended for fracture prevention, taking into account that current international guidelines recommend that elderly, men and women take 1000 to 1200 mg of calcium per day to improve bone density and to prevent fractures.
Marta Albè
Photo source: Prevention
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