title: Bone density in healthy men after cessation of calcium supplements: 20-month follow-up of a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Bone density has been followed up for 20 months following completion of a trial which compared calcium 1,200 mg/day with placebo, in normal older men. Following cessation of calcium supplements, there is a small residual benefit in total body bone density, but not at the hip or spine.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Calcium supplements, or supplements of calcium-rich foods, have a positive effect on bone mineral density (BMD). However, it is uncertain whether there are any residual benefits of calcium on BMD following cessation of supplementation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a previously published study, 323 healthy men were randomized to receive elemental calcium 600 mg/day (n = 108), calcium 1,200 mg/day (n = 108), or placebo (n = 107) over 2 years. Consenting men from the placebo and calcium 1,200 mg/day groups (85 and 87, respectively) were followed over the next 1-2 years (mean 20 months), off trial medication.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the core trial, BMD increased at all sites by 1.0-1.5% at 2 years in the group receiving calcium 1,200 mg/day, compared to the group receiving placebo. In post-trial follow-up, the calcium group has some residual benefit at the total body (0.41% above placebo; P = 0.04) but there was no significant between-group differences at other sites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Following cessation of calcium supplements in healthy men, there is a small residual benefit in total body BMD, but not at the hip or spine. This is unlikely to confer a clinically significant dividend in terms of ongoing fracture prevention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kalluru
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ames
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bolland
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Gamble
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grey
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horne
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Reid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005269:Femur / Q000502:physiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D028761:Withholding Treatment
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium