I agree. It was very vague on the type of calcium being ingested, when it is taken, what foods it is taken with, what other supplements are being taken and what exercise is being done by the people in the study.

Calcium and vitamin D alone will not fix anything. You need a bunch of other nutrients, high levels of protein, other supplements and specific foods. AND exercise - especially weight bearing and heavy strength. For example calcium carbonate used in plant based milk is not absorbed as well even under good supporting conditions. It is rock calcium and not as easily bioavailable as calcium citrate or plant derived calcium. I could go on. The study was extremely vague as to the other studies it was using to reach its conclusions. Maybe AI could shed more light.

I’m sticking to my calcium supplements and other interventions. Was static from 2018 until last year when I had to drop my exercise routine for 9 months due to injury playing pickleball ( not a fracture). I had a slight drop at my last DEXA. I’m now recovered and I am working much harder to intervene. It could be that the exercise is the key to pushing that calcium into the bones. But bottom line bones need calcium and if you are not doing all the right things to help your body absorb it I doubt you will see a difference.

Drs are also very bad at not giving patients the full picture. Take calcium and vitamin d they say. No mention of when, what type or correct dosage (at least my primary care did back in 2018 when I had my first DEXA). Then offered me Fosamax. It’s just so easy to prescribe drugs!

I did the research and went the natural route for now. But, a lot of people are not in a position to do everything they possibly can to impact their bones without drugs. Cost (supplements are definitely not cheap) and mobility are two big factors, so drugs are sometimes the only option to consider.