WHY INCREASE INTAKE OF CALCIUM SUPPLEMENT DOES NOT IMPROVE OSTEOPOROSIS OR BONE HEALTH?

In calcium deficient people, calcium supplements improve bone health and osteoporosis which is well established fact but why excess or in appropriate consumption of calcium supplements does not improve bone health and osteoporosis. Let’s check it out.

OSTEOPOROSIS
Osteoporosis is also referred as “Porous Bone” which is systemic metabolic disease. In osteoporosis, there is diminished or decreased bone matrix rather than poor bone calcification. We can say that in osteoporosis density and quality of bone tissue are reduced (change) over time is primarily determined by the balance between the activities of number of osteoblast (bone forming cell) and osteoclast cell (bone resorbing cells).

BONE MATRIX
Bone matrix mainly consists of protein as fundamental framework (type I collagen fiber) along with minerals as boron, calcium, chromium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorous, selenium, sulfur, silica, zinc and others 64 trace minerals. Bones are large reservoir of calcium and phosphates in the body.

CAUSES OF OSTEOPOROSIS
The following are the main reasons of osteoporosis,
1. Inactivity which is responsible for lack of physical stress on bones
2. Malnutrition
3. Lack of vitamin C
4. Diseases of protein metabolism like Cushing syndrome
5. Old age, in which many protein an anabolic functions deteriorate with age as a result of it, bone matrix cannot be deposited satisfactorily and there is also great decline in growth hormone and growth factors in old age.

IMPORTANCE OF CALCIUM IN PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESS
Calcium plays a very important role in different physiological functions as,
1. In contraction of skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscles.
2. In transmission of nerve impulses and blood coagulation.

WHY PROLONG CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS USE IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR OSTEOPOROSIS MANAGEMENT NOWADAYS?
Here we will try to find out the answer of this question
“Everyone is on calcium supplements but everyone has osteoporosis. What the reason behind it?” OR “Why excess calcium intake is not helpful in osteoporosis?”
1. In the past, it was assumed that calcium as a principal constituent of bone is responsible for new bone formation so it is strongly recommended that HIGHER THE CALCIUM INTAKE (AS SUPPLEMENTS) THEN THERE WILL BE MORE BONE DENSITY AND LESS BONE FRACTURE. On contrary to this belief, many meta-analysis indicating that calcium supplements is not helpful preventing bone fracture of postmenopausal woman rather it slow down bone loss only.
2.  Excess calcium supplements intake is not helpful in new bone formation rather function as weak anti resorptive because fundamental structure of bone is protein matrix (collagen fiber). Calcium is helpful only in calcification of bone. As we already discussed that bone formation is primarily determined by balance of osteoblast and osteoclast activities with the passage of time.
3. If we consider risk to benefit ratio of taking high calcium through supplements then it appears to be negative. High calcium supplements intake showed no benefit to bone health or helpful in preventing bone fracture rather hypercalcemia depressed nervous system, decreases QT interval of heart (arrhythmia), causing atherosclerosis (hardening of vessels) constipation and responsible for lack of appetite, pancreatitis, colon polyps and peptic ulcers. The reason behind is that, “human body can only process or absorb 500 to 600 calcium at a time and taking more calcium with supplements result in hypercalcemia and its negative consequences on bone and body.”

IMPACT OF HYPERCALCEMIA ON KIDNEY
Hypercalcemia increases diuresis with increase excretion of electrolytes such calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. Hypercalcemia is also found to increase risk of kidney stones. Frequent urination (fluid depletion) increases thirst. This electrolytes imbalance initiates a complex cycle of more calcium absorption from intestine and more release of calcium from bones which further aggravates osteoporosis and bone health.

HOW WE SHOULD FULFIL OUR DAILY CALCIUM REQUIREMENTS?
Daily calcium requirements should be fulfilled through diet because calcium availability through diet does not cause any harm as compare to supplements. The reason is that dietary calcium is absorbed slowly due to fats and protein presence with them which is helpful in slowing gastric transit time of dietary calcium. As a result of it, calcium is available as small boluses in blood and body do not need to deal with excess calcium.

BEST SOURCE OF DIET FOR OSTEOPOROSIS MANAGEMENT
Although there is no doubt dairy products are rich in calcium and consider as good source of calcium availability but for osteoporosis management, we require all the minerals present in bones in right proportion. The best source to get right proportion of all minerals for bone health is DARK GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES OR GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES except few ones which are rich in oxalate or phytates which after binding with calcium reduce its bioavailability.
One more interesting point is that although green leafy vegetables contain less amount of calcium as compare to dairy products but calcium is more bioavailable from leafy vegetables as compare to dairy products. We can say that, to get full range of minerals for bone health, our diet must include organic food, vegetables and green as much as possible.

CONCLUSION
We can conclude from the aforementioned discussion that we should immediately stop unnecessarily intake of calcium supplements for osteoporosis management unless and until if someone is calcium deficient because for osteoporosis management all the minerals should be taken in right proportion. Due to this reason our intake of vegetables, green and organic food must be highest along with dairy products because dietary calcium has shown no negative consequences in comparison to calcium supplements. Long term calcium supplement consumption is not helping our bones at all rather worsening it with other negative health consequences.