Landmark Study Proves Calcium No Help For Osteoporosis Suffers
Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., M.S.
According to a new study released today from the prestigious medical journal, Lancet, there is “no evidence” calcium and vitamin D supplements prevent broken bones in the elderly. They also concluded that there was “no evidence” the supplements reduced the risk of fractures or falling, or improved quality of life, in the women.
The study concluded that routine supplementation with calcium and vitamin D, either alone or in combination, is not effective in the prevention of further fractures. It is estimated three million people in the UK suffer from the condition, which causes more than 300,000 fractures each year. How the Study was Conducted
University of Aberdeen researchers randomly selected 5,300 people over the age of 70 recruited from 21 hospitals to either to take a dummy pill (placebo), a daily supplement of vitamin D, calcium or both supplements together. They were then followed up for between 24 and 62 months. A total of 698 people had experienced a fracture, the Lancet study showed. However the incidence of fracture did not differ between the groups.
A second study, published in the British Medical Journal, looked at 3,314 women aged 70 and over and at high risk of hip fracture. Half were given calcium and vitamin D tablets to take daily, the rest just received a leaflet on diet and prevention of falls. All women were monitored for an average of two years. Fracture rates in the two groups were not significantly different. Here is the actual published paper
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/data/330/7497/DC1/1 Dr. Grisanti's Comments:
If you have been a reader of my weekly health tips for any length of time, you are probably aware of my predictions as it relates to the "truth" of commonly accepted medical advice. First was the estrogen fiasco, then NSAIDS (Vioxx, Betra) and just today the fall of calcium. Unfortunately most people are still buying into the billion-dollar cholesterol myth. I have come to the conclusion that most people simply are swayed by the power of television and the fine art of mass advertising. With that being said, I have been preaching the truth about ineffectiveness of calcium against osteoporosis for years. Please take a moment and read the story about my mom and osteoporosis. If you are concerned about osteoporosis and you should, then I urge you to do the right thing and demand that your doctor order a red blood cell mineral test. There is simply no excuse to not do this, especially if you are worried about reversing osteoporosis.
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About Dr. Grisanti
