What's the evidence on Calcium and Vitamin D for bone density?

Posted by ellerbracke @ellerbracke, Oct 1, 2019

A recent bone density test came back in the low average range for my age. My OBGYN recommended calcium and vitamin D. I checked with a family member who is a pharmacist, and she says that the benefits of calcium supplements are not clear cut. Regarding vitamin D, I’m in the sunbelt, and spend at least 2 hours per day outdoors during 8 to 9 months a year (early morning, or evening, sun screen between 10 AM and 5 PM if applicable for pool, beach, for example). I’m sure many people on this forum have done their own research regarding the benefits of calcium pills, and I would love to hear what the current consensus is. I exercise regularly, so my bones get a workout from the muscles pulling on them, if that makes a difference. I think the data I was given is that statistically I have an 8% chance of a hip fracture in the next decade, based on the test results.

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@lioness

@parrotqueen Do you get the catalogue Dream Products there are 2 braces in there one has 16 magnets and its wider but only around the Lumbar and part of thoracic. The I found the one I use its a full brace I was telling you about they are both in dream peoducts. The phone number is 800-410-2153 if you need it . I love mine . I just ordered from Vitacost I love there site . I wrote that calcium down and will check it out if the birds like it may benefit me . lol I do take D3,K2 and mag.

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Hahaha - Neocalglucon was for humans! If birds start laying too many eggs, the chicks can have splayed legs because they are deficient in calcium. I used to get it from the pharmacy -- they kept it behind the counter for some unknown reason. That was in the 1970s and 1980s. It just came into my mind. I looked for liquid calcium on Amazon and they have a ton of liquid calcium products - you can get it with magnesium, K2, and D3! Thank you so much for the phone number for Dream Products. I will see if they are online - and if not, I will call and ask for a catalog. I look forward to getting this pain in my back tamed down. I've got a doctor appointment with a new orthopedic doc on Monday and my physiatrist on Tuesday. I made the physiatrist appointment and then my GP told me to see the orthopedic doctor - so.... Now that I know it is just a question of time passing, I wish I didn't have those appointments.

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@parrotqueen Before I read your post I found a liquid calcium on Vitacost so will get it tomorrow . Dream Products is online. I do get the catalogues they have a lot of things in it . I have always catalogue shopped so I get Carol Wright and Dr. Leonards also ,Have a good day

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Try to get most of your daily calcium requirements from your diet (e.g. dairy products, tofu, almonds, canned salmon with the bones). Doctors tend to not push calcium supplements as much anymore. Google links between calcium vitamin supplementation and heart disease in women. I do have osteoporosis and was osteopenia in my early 40's. Vitamin D supplementation is recommended. My endocrinologist advised me to take 2000iu/day. (I am most definitely not in a sunbelt! though).

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@contentandwell

@ellerbracke @candrgonzalez What test shows Vitamin D level? I have a battery of tests every month because I am post-transplant and I just went through them. I do see calcium there, in the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel. Mine is 9.1 mg/dL and the range is 8.6 - 10.4 mg/dL so I am within that but I do not see Vitamin D anywhere. According to the DEXA I had a few weeks ago I have somewhat severe osteoporosis so this is a very concerning thing for me. I have an appointment with an osteoporosis specialist (an endocrinologist) but it's not until January so until then I want to be as proactive as I can be.
Thanks.
JK

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my doctor does a vitamin d 25 hydroxy every 6 months. I have severe osteoporosis I take 10,000mg every day plus a prolia shoot every 6 months.

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@lioness

@imallers Hi I did go to shop.com but my Dr wants me to take 1200mg of calcium so am looking for a powder with this in mind. @contentandwell I became allergic to the bone meal powder I told you about my gums began to swell much better now but still some there . Right now I have the calcium pills but do want to get a liquid of powder calcium

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I have to take a calcioum citrate common that comes in a small size (citracal petites) amazon is a good source .

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@scgraham

Hello, I take calcium and Vitamin D, even though I get a lot of sunshine in Oklahoma. I have osteoporosis and took Forteo for one year. It did not work. The doctor switched to a Prolia, and will have my dexa scan in a month to find out if it worked. They did a lot of blood work to determine why the Forteo did not work, but found no answers. The Prolia is making my leg bones and jaw bones hurt. My GP (not the doctor who treats my osteoporosis) wondered if my early complete hysterectomy (I haven’t taken estrace in 15 years) and high dosage of thyroid I must take daily, effect the absorption of calcium? Do any of y’all know?

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After taking one Prolia shot, I could not walk more than a few steps for months. It was like learning to walk all over again. I refused to take any more of the shots as a result of all the issues I encountered after only one. I think this is a dangerous drug.

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@dracena

After taking one Prolia shot, I could not walk more than a few steps for months. It was like learning to walk all over again. I refused to take any more of the shots as a result of all the issues I encountered after only one. I think this is a dangerous drug.

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@dracena booked for my fourth injection on the afternoon of Dec.2nd. Sorry to learn of your very bad experience with this medication. I suspect the increased g.i. problems come from the Prolia but will never know for sure unless I stop the injections. Not ready to say no yet (although it's almost like a drug addiction once you start hard to stop without a replacement drug in place as you risk fracturing). Now my always under the surface fear of meds is resurfacing.

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I had a very enlightening conversation with my infectious disease doctor about drugs like prolia. She told me she knew about those drugs and she also didn't think I should take them. She said to me exactly what my research into bisphosphonates has already revealed: Those drugs hold onto old bone rather than let it leave the body. That way your bones appear to be getting thicker and thicker - but it is only the old bone that would normally be expelled from the body. So as soon as you stop taking Ptolia, Reclast, etc., you are back to having your bones and nothing more. All the progress you made is only an illusion. She agreed with me that addressing my Human Growth Hormone issue is important, as is taking my vitamins and minerals. I am also on a very low dose of estrogen and progesterone. My DEXA scan score was -5.7. When I was thinking of trying Prolia, the women on the support group on Facebook told me to talk to some women who are in their group (it's a natural remedy for Osteoporosis group). Both of those woman got osteonecrosis from taking Prolia. Both of them no longer had a jaw. One of them was fighting osteonecrosis in a secondary place. They didn't have to say much to convince me. Vitamin K2 (MK4 and MK7) is SO important. I am continuing my research and I will keep everybody posted if I learn anything really great and new. I'm doing vitamin K2 (MK4 and MK7) and vitamin D3, 3 mg of boron 3x daily, food-based calcium 500 mg 2x daily, magnesium 250 mg 2x daily, a good food-based multivitamin, a good food-based vitamin C as well as B complex, CoQ10, PQQ, and NAC (only the CoQ10 is for the bones - but if you take the others with it, you get protection from heart disease), flaxseed oil, turmeric, boswellia, and sunflower lecithin. And I try to down some grass-fed cow collagen daily.

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I am so sorry for what happened to you dracena. I have heard other people say the same thing. When I talked to the endocrinologist about it - he tried to tell me it was impossible to have long lasting side effects because it is "only in your blood." His inability to think outside the box means I will not be going back to him.

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@sue225

@dracena booked for my fourth injection on the afternoon of Dec.2nd. Sorry to learn of your very bad experience with this medication. I suspect the increased g.i. problems come from the Prolia but will never know for sure unless I stop the injections. Not ready to say no yet (although it's almost like a drug addiction once you start hard to stop without a replacement drug in place as you risk fracturing). Now my always under the surface fear of meds is resurfacing.

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Dracena - You have to do what you believe is right for you - but have you done any independent research on these drugs? I'm hearing horrible horror stories - and that no matter when you stop, all that old bone just leaves the body as it normally would. They say you are not building new bone, just retaining old bone that is usually expelled from the body. Please keep us posted.

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