In people over 50 years of age, dietary or supplemental calcium increases bone mineral density

Tai V, Leung W, Grey A, et al. Calcium intake and bone mineral density: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2015 Sep 29;351:h4183.

Review question

In people over 50 years of age, does increasing calcium in the diet or with supplements affect bone mineral density (BMD)? See related Evidence Summary of a review by Bolland.

Background

Calcium is important for bone health, but people often don’t get enough of it in the food they eat. As we age, we lose bone mass. Doctors often recommend eating more calcium-rich foods or taking calcium supplements to improve bone mass, which is measured as BMD.

How the review was done

The researchers did a systematic review, including studies up to September 2014. They found 15 randomized controlled trials of dietary calcium that included 1533 people and 51 randomized controlled trials of calcium supplements that included 12 257 people.

Dietary sources of calcium were milk or milk powder, dairy products, or hydroxyapatite (a supplement that is made from bone and has other minerals, hormones, protein, and amino acids in addition to calcium).

The main results were BMD at the lumbar spine (lower back), femoral neck (top part of the thigh bone that connects to the ball of the hip joint), total hip, and forearm.

What the researchers found

21 trials had a low risk of bias.

Dietary calcium increased BMD by 0.7% to 1.8% at lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip at 2 years.

Calcium supplementation increased BMD by 1.0% to 1.8% after 2.5 years.

The reviewers did not assess whether people taking additional calcium had fewer bone problems such as fractures.

Conclusion

In people over 50 years of age, dietary calcium or calcium supplements increase bone mineral density by less than 1.8%.

Dietary calcium or calcium supplements in people over 50 years of age