title: Dietary calcium intake and rates of bone loss in women.
abstract: We measured bone mineral density (BMD) at the midradius and lumbar spine in 106 normal women, ages 23-84 yr (61 were postmenopausal). Three to nine measurements (median, four) were made over 2.6 to 6.6 yr (mean, 4.1 yr). The correlation between calcium intake (range, 260-2,035 mg/d) and rate of change in BMD was not significant at the midradius (r = 0.06) or lumbar spine (r = 0.08), even after adjusting for age, menopausal status, and serum estrogen levels by multiple regression analysis. Women in the lower (mean, 501 mg/d) and in the upper (mean, 1,397 mg/d) quartiles of dietary intake had similar rates of change in BMD (%/yr [mean +/- SE], at midradius, -0.78 +/- 0.24 and -0.91 +/- 0.17 for lower and upper quartiles, respectively; at lumbar spine, -1.06 +/- 0.24 and 0.98 +/- 0.24). These data do not support the hypothesis that insufficient dietary calcium is a major cause of bone loss in women.
authors: Endocrine Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
authors: B L
authors: BL
authors: Riggs
authors: H W
authors: HW
authors: Wahner
authors: L J
authors: LJ
authors: Melton
authors: L S
authors: LS
authors: Richelson
authors: H L
authors: HL
authors: Judd
authors: W M
authors: WM
authors: O'Fallon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000032:analysis; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003720:Densitometry; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D004967:Estrogens; D008903:Minerals