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New analysis questions benefits of calcium/vitamin d supplementation
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260614011852.htm
This study questions the effectiveness of long-term supplementation for reducing fracture risk. It seems to focus on the effectiveness of supplementation at younger ages, but I have to wonder if it extends to those already dealing with osteoporosis. Since it seems to focus on calcium and d without regard to other dietary issues it does make me wonder if the key is again how do we get calcium from our digestive systems to our bones.
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If you are on medication for osteoporosis, you probably want to continue to follow your prescribing physician directions. Many of the medications require proper levels of calcium and Vit D. The BMJ comments apparently said the meta-analysis should be interpreted with caution and results may not apply to ... those receiving drug treatment for osteoporosis. Also, the study dealt with vitamin supplementation; most physicians recommend that patients get their required calcium from food first. The recommended levels of Vitamin D are hard to get through food alone, so supplements of Vit D are usually needed. It seems that the study was concerned with blanket recommendations for the general populations of elderly people to use Vit D and Calcium supplements. The main message is that doctors should focus more effort on fall prevention strategies, encourage weight and resistance training, etc. rather than supplementation.
see also - https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/calcium-and-vitamin-d-supplements-unlikely-to-prev
‘It is also important that the review’s findings may not apply to people with specific bone disorders or those receiving active osteoporosis treatment, such as antiresorptive therapy.’ and "Participants in most of the trials were community dwelling (87%) and not at high risk of fractures or falls (73%)."
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4 Reactions@daisy17 This last study was interesting. It is more taking the view from a public health perspective. I read some of it before as I remembered the criteria for whether or not it was a fragility fracture. I fell hard running downhill on the road but I guess I was on the ground and it wasn't a car accident. My endocrinologist is reading this definition literally and since I has not on a step or any elevation, it is a fragility fracture. I was wondering if they would've included me in the study! My t-score is -1.8 so I would fit into the fracture without osteoporosis.
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1 Reaction@jozer
Hi, both my "Bone Fracture Clinic" practitioner and my gyn asked me if I took calcium supplements. When I said no, they both replied "Good, don't" I was surprised, expecting a lecture on how I should be taking them. Instead, I was told that studies had shown that most of the calcium from supplements does not get absorbed into your bones, and in fact there is concern that some of it actually may be deposited in your arteries, giving you an increased risk of cardiovascular issues. We should try to get our calcium requirements met by food as much as possible. I don't know - all I know is I wouldn't take the supplements because they were just too big for me to swallow without fear of choking to death. Maybe the thoughts on this have changed and the pendulum is swinging back to the original way of thinking. Just relating what I was told several years ago......
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4 Reactions@lylii yes all directions from med pros so vague…some say 1200 mg some say other things…I went to 4 docs for opinions on treatment and one (a rheumatologist) said 1200 is too much but the rest said 1200…but it can and should come from food, a good idea to keep track and then you would supplement with with whatever mg you are lacking. Doc didn’t say anything about the importance of getting calcium from food first.
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1 Reaction@lylii Vitamin K should be taken with calcium as it helps direct calcium to your bones. There is discussion about it under this topic heading: "Vitamin K: High Doses of MK-4 and MK-7 Show Promising Results"
I take calcium, but take products that are divided up into 3-4 pills a day so they aren't super large. I alternate between New Chapter Bone Strength and Citrical Petites.
If you want a food based calcium, you can try Seen Calcium Chews, which gets its calcium from food (dates, milk minerals and protein, almonds and mushroom . Each chew contains 500mg calcium and 400IU Vitamin D. Soon, they will include Vitamin K in the product.
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1 ReactionThank you!
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1 Reaction@daisy17 I'm taking New Chapter Bone Strength too. How would you compare New Chapter Bone Strength to Citrical Petites?
@tillymack I think they are two different types of calcium so that's why I take both. New Chapter is sourced from algae and AI Assist says: "Algae calcium, specifically derived from red algae such as Lithothamnion, is a plant-based form of calcium that is highly absorbable and contains additional trace minerals beneficial for bone health. This type of calcium is considered superior to traditional rock-based calcium supplements."
Citrical is calcium citrate. Both contain Vitamin D but New Chapter also contains some vitamin K. If I were to choose just one, I'd go with New Chapter.
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2 Reactions@daisy17
Many thanks for answering my question!
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