|
 wo new studies published in the November issue of
The American Journal of Therapeutics provide additional
scientific evidence that calcium citrate may be the optimal form
of calcium supplementation. The studies suggest consumers might
benefit more by taking a calcium citrate supplement such as Citracal®,
as opposed to common calcium carbonate supplements.
 Researchers
at the Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research, University
of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas conducted
a "Meta-Analysis of Calcium Bioavailability: A Comparison
of Calcium Citrate with Calcium Carbonate" (Sakhaee et.
al., 1999), which evaluated 15 studies on the bioavailability
of two of the most common forms of calcium supplements, calcium
citrate and calcium carbonate. All but one study showed significantly
greater absorption of calcium from calcium citrate than calcium
carbonate by an average of 22%-27%, regardless of whether the
candidate had eaten a meal or not.
"In the
case of calcium supplements, bioavailability refers to the amount
of calcium a person actually absorbs from a supplement, rather
than the amount of elemental calcium the supplement contains
before it is taken," explains lead author Khashayar Sakhaee,
MD, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. "Although
calcium carbonate contains more elemental calcium than calcium
citrate, it is not as readily available to the body overall.
The meta-analysis confirms our hypothesis that calcium citrate
provides superior bio-availability of calcium."
In another
study published in the journal, "The Effect of Calcium Citrate
on Bone Density in the Early and Mid-Postmenopausal Period: A
Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study" (Ruml et. al., 1999),
the findings indicate that bone loss in early and mid-postmenopausal
women can be halted by supplementing the diet with calcium citrate.
Mission Pharmacal
of San Antonio, Texas provided the calcium preparations and placebo
for the study. In the two-year study, 63 early postmenopausal
women were given 400 mg of Citracal Calcium Citrate Ultra-dense
twice a day in order to gauge the effect of calcium supplements
on the early stages of osteoporosis. Those in the placebo group
took tablets of identical appearance. Bone density was tested
at three sites most commonly affected by osteoporosis: the vertebrae
in the lower back (spine), the radial shaft (wrist) and the femoral
neck (hip). Supplementation with Citracal was shown to have a
protective effect on existing bone mass. Calcium citrate preserved
existing bone mass in two of the three sites, and was shown to
slow the further resorption of bone.
Lead author,
Lisa Ruml, MD, noted, "This study clearly documents the
importance of calcium in helping to prevent bone loss in postmenopausal
women. Furthermore, it supports the recommendation that adequate
calcium intake is needed throughout life, but especially in postmenopausal
years when women are most vulnerable to manifestation of bone
loss. Since most people do not get enough calcium through their
daily diet, it would benefit them to take a calcium supplement
like Citracal (calcium citrate) as part of their regimen."
According
to Dr. Ruml, the fact that calcium citrate is absorbed so readily
by the body may account for its success as a proven aid in the
fight against bone loss. She also noted that calcium citrate
can be taken with or without food, a benefit for those with low
stomach acid.
Bones typically
reach their peak density by age 30, thereafter, there is a loss
of bone mass at a rate of 1% of annually. Bone loss occurs most
rapidly in the first five years of menopause. While earlier studies
of late postmenopausal women showed that calcium prevented bone
loss, studies in early postmenopausal women have yielded conflicting
results. "We were surprised to find that calcium citrate
did indeed stabilize bone mass in women during this critical
time," reports Dr. Ruml.
Adequate calcium
intake and moderate weight-bearing exercise are the first line
of defense against osteoporosis. Healthcare professionals suggest
women incorporate calcium-rich dairy products, cruciferous vegetables,
and dark, leafy vegetables in their diet in addition to a calcium
citrate supplement. Women should also talk with their doctors
about an exercise regimen adapted for their age and fitness level.
Based in San
Antonio, Texas, Mission Pharmacal, a leader in innovative pharmaceutical
products since 1946, has been dedicated to identifying unmet
health needs in the marketplace and developing innovative prescription
and over-the-counter products to meet them for more than 50 years.
|
