Lee Swanson Research Update

Dieting Post Menopausal Women Need Extra Calcium

December 2004

Post menopause

Postmenopausal women on diets require more calcium, according to a study reported in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

During periods of weight-loss, bone mass may also be lost, leading to an increased risk of bone fracture. The current study examined the effect of a weight-loss diet on calcium absorption in 57 overweight postmenopausal women. The women were assigned to either weight-loss or weight-maintenance groups for six weeks. The weight-loss groups received nutrition education and behavior modification training from a registered dietitian, and they lost weight through a combination of caloric restriction and regular physical exercise. The weight-maintenance groups did not receive weight-loss training.

All participants took a daily multivitamin containing 200 mg of calcium and were assigned to receive either 200 mg or 1,000 mg of supplemental calcium (as calcium citrate) per day for six weeks. Dietary sources were intended to provide an additional 800 mg of calcium per day, so that the two groups received a total of 1,200 and 2,000 mg respectively.

Women in the weight-loss groups absorbed less calcium than women in the weight-maintenance groups, especially when weight-loss was rapid. Women in the weight-loss group who received a total of 1,200 mg of calcium per day absorbed almost 20% less calcium than the daily requirement. Women in the weight-loss group receiving a total of 2,000 mg of calcium per day absorbed sufficient amounts of calcium to prevent bone loss.

The study suggests that postmenopausal women who are dieting should take supplemental calcium above the current recommended daily value of 1,200 mg to prevent bone loss.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 80(1):123-130, 2004

New to Natural Health?
Tools
Customer Service