1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

osteoporosis, calcium supplements and calcium paradox

Posted by melia7 @melia7, Mar 9, 2023

Hello, I am prescribed to take alendronic acid with vitamin D3 for my osteoporosis. I take also calcium 1000mg for a long time. However, I have also high cholesterol (about 6,9) and I wonder about negative effect of such medication on my blood vessels. I have searched the literature and found that osteoporosis itself can cause calcification of vessels. Calcium supplements are found in some articles to cause the progression of aorta calcification. So, the question is if your doctors are recommending you to take calcium supplements or not?

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pami | @pami | Mar 13, 2023

I was told by my doctor that you should get all your calcium naturally. I drink cow's milk, eat cheese sticks, eat yogurt, eat vegetables high in calcium, salmon with bones and other natural foods high in calcium. I keep track of what I eat up to 1200 mg of calcium. It must work. This past year my bone density increased from 4.1 to 3.6. (I am also on Prolia.) My blood work done 3 weeks ago showed a normal calcium level. I also take 1,000 IU of Vitamin D daily and 200 mcg of Vitamin K2 MK7.

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4 replies
anjalima | @anjalima | Mar 14, 2023
In reply to @pami "I was told by my doctor that you should get all your calcium naturally. I drink..." + (show)
@pami

I was told by my doctor that you should get all your calcium naturally. I drink cow's milk, eat cheese sticks, eat yogurt, eat vegetables high in calcium, salmon with bones and other natural foods high in calcium. I keep track of what I eat up to 1200 mg of calcium. It must work. This past year my bone density increased from 4.1 to 3.6. (I am also on Prolia.) My blood work done 3 weeks ago showed a normal calcium level. I also take 1,000 IU of Vitamin D daily and 200 mcg of Vitamin K2 MK7.

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In my 70’s. I too only focus on absorbable food based calcium. DEXA holding steady ( at osteopenia) for 3 years . Also take D3 and K2

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anjalima | @anjalima | Mar 14, 2023
In reply to @pami "I was told by my doctor that you should get all your calcium naturally. I drink..." + (show)
@pami

I was told by my doctor that you should get all your calcium naturally. I drink cow's milk, eat cheese sticks, eat yogurt, eat vegetables high in calcium, salmon with bones and other natural foods high in calcium. I keep track of what I eat up to 1200 mg of calcium. It must work. This past year my bone density increased from 4.1 to 3.6. (I am also on Prolia.) My blood work done 3 weeks ago showed a normal calcium level. I also take 1,000 IU of Vitamin D daily and 200 mcg of Vitamin K2 MK7.

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Blood calcium is normal Calcium score (CT of arteries) was Zero! I thank healthy eating, food based calcium and K2 for that!

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fearfracture | @fearfracture | Mar 14, 2023

My endocrinologist told me to take 1200 mg of calcium supplements daily. I followed his advice and did that for about 3 yrs. Then I started doing my own research and learned that you are right only supposed to get a total of 1200-1500 mg of calcium per day. So I started keeping track of the calcium in my diet and supplement accordingly. I get most of my calcium from dairy and now I usually only take about 350 to 400 mg of calcium in supplemental form.

From what I’ve read calcium from your diet doesn’t cause the issues you listed, it’s supplements that potentially can cause those problems. Also, supposedly if you are getting plenty of vitamin D and K2 and magnesium then the calcium supplements shouldn’t cause problems. In addition to 350-400 mg calcium I also take vitamin D, k2, magnesium, and boron.

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2 replies
fearfracture | @fearfracture | Mar 14, 2023
In reply to @pami "I was told by my doctor that you should get all your calcium naturally. I drink..." + (show)
@pami

I was told by my doctor that you should get all your calcium naturally. I drink cow's milk, eat cheese sticks, eat yogurt, eat vegetables high in calcium, salmon with bones and other natural foods high in calcium. I keep track of what I eat up to 1200 mg of calcium. It must work. This past year my bone density increased from 4.1 to 3.6. (I am also on Prolia.) My blood work done 3 weeks ago showed a normal calcium level. I also take 1,000 IU of Vitamin D daily and 200 mcg of Vitamin K2 MK7.

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Regarding your comment “ My blood work done 3 weeks ago showed a normal calcium level”, your bloodwork should ALWAYS show that your calcium is within the normal range. If it doesn’t, you need to have your parathyroid glands checked.

A blood calcium level within the normal range doesn’t mean that one is getting enough calcium from one’s diet, it simple means one’s body is working properly. When you don’t get enough calcium from your diet, your parathyroid gland releases PTH to “find” calcium (PTH stimulates your bones to release calcium into your bloodstream) to keep your blood calcium within the normal range.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22355-parathyroid-hormone
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1 reply
pami | @pami | Mar 15, 2023
In reply to @fearfracture "My endocrinologist told me to take 1200 mg of calcium supplements daily. I followed his advice..." + (show)
@fearfracture

My endocrinologist told me to take 1200 mg of calcium supplements daily. I followed his advice and did that for about 3 yrs. Then I started doing my own research and learned that you are right only supposed to get a total of 1200-1500 mg of calcium per day. So I started keeping track of the calcium in my diet and supplement accordingly. I get most of my calcium from dairy and now I usually only take about 350 to 400 mg of calcium in supplemental form.

From what I’ve read calcium from your diet doesn’t cause the issues you listed, it’s supplements that potentially can cause those problems. Also, supposedly if you are getting plenty of vitamin D and K2 and magnesium then the calcium supplements shouldn’t cause problems. In addition to 350-400 mg calcium I also take vitamin D, k2, magnesium, and boron.

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How much Boron are you taking and is it a separate supplement from the others?

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1 reply
dreamjean1958 | @dreamjean1958 | Mar 15, 2023
In reply to @rhubymama "Here is a study from 2017 about research concerning Vitamins K1 and K2 from Pubmed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5494092/..." + (show)
@rhubymama

Here is a study from 2017 about research concerning Vitamins K1 and K2 from Pubmed:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5494092/

It lists interactions with Coumadin and Warfarin plus a few other meds.

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Thank you , I would like an updated research. My endroconologist said . Vitamin K is not what they originally thought. So more confusion

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1 reply
rhubymama | @rhubymama | Mar 15, 2023
In reply to @dreamjean1958 "Thank you , I would like an updated research. My endroconologist said . Vitamin K is..." + (show)
@dreamjean1958

Thank you , I would like an updated research. My endroconologist said . Vitamin K is not what they originally thought. So more confusion

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9403798/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8067793/

Your endocrinologist is correct. Vitamin K is not what they originally thought.

Image below did not upload correctly and I couldn’t delete.

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