The Big Calcium Controversy: Read & Reap.

Boning Up on Calcium: Supplements for Bone Health---Popping calcium for better bone health? Get the most from that supplement with these tips.
By R. Morgan Griffin
WebMD FeatureReviewed by Celia E. Dominguez, MD

You've probably heard that calcium is important for bone health and treating -- or preventing -- osteoporosis. Happily, calcium seems to be everywhere these days. Not only is it naturally in dairy and other foods, but it now appears in many fortified products -- like oatmeal, cereal, protein bars, and orange juice. Calcium is also sold in countless supplements for bone health that line the aisles of your local drugstore.

And yet, it's not enough. "Most people still aren't getting enough calcium in their diets," says Shreyasee Amin, MD, a rheumatologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Why? Part of the problem isn't just that we're not eating or taking enough calcium. For calcium to be absorbed and used, we need to have the right levels of other things, such as vitamin D. If we don't, the calcium we take in just doesn't do us much good. So some of us could be drinking milk by the bucket and yet still not get the calcium we need.

So here's what you need to know about calcium supplements for bone health.

Why Is Calcium Important for Bone Health?
Calcium is key in the building of new bone. And bone development occurs every day of your life. Just as you shed skin cells and grow new ones to replace them, your body naturally removes old bone and replaces it with new.

The pace of losing and growing bone differs depending on your age. When you were young, you made much more bone than you lost, which is why your bones got bigger and stronger. But the problems start when this balance tips too far in the other direction, and you start losing bone much faster than you can grow it.

Gradual bone loss begins in adulthood and becomes more serious after age 50. In women, the hormonal changes of menopause -- and the drop in estrogen levels that occur with it -- can greatly worsen the imbalance. The bones naturally lose mass, becoming more brittle.

Because calcium isn't produced by your body, the amount you have depends on the foods you eat. Here's a chart showing how much calcium -- measured in milligrams (mg) -- that you need based on your age.



Age /
Calcium (mg)

Birth to 6 months
210

6 months to 1 year
270

1-3 years
500

4-8 years
800

9-18 years
1,300

19-50 years
1,000

51-70 years
1,200

Over 70 years
1,200

While 1,200 milligrams of calcium per day is sometimes considered the maximum, many osteoporosis experts think that higher levels are preferable.

"A lot of rheumatologists will go up to 1,500 milligrams a day of calcium in people who are either over 70 or who have a high risk of osteoporosis," says John Schousboe, MD, director of the Park Nicollet Clinic Osteoporosis Center in St. Louis Park, Minn.

However, more calcium isn't always better. Getting too much calcium -- 2,500 milligrams or above -- can increase your risk of some health problems, like kidney stones.

Osteoporosis Glossary

Bone Mineral Density - A measurement of the amount of calcium and minerals in bone tissue.
Calcium - A mineral in (and vital to) your bones. If your body lacks calcium, it takes it from bones.
DEXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) - a test used to measure bone mineral density.
Osteoporosis - A decrease in bone density, which increase the risk of fractures.
Vitamin D - A vitamin that helps your body absorb calcium.


(To Be Continued...)
Courtesy: WebMD.com Newsletter