Effects of discontinuing calcium supplementation
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Effects of Discontinuing Calcium Supplementation on Bone Mineral Density
Bone Mineral Density Loss After Stopping Calcium in Elderly Adults
Research shows that in elderly men and women, the bone mineral density (BMD) gains achieved from calcium and vitamin D supplementation are mostly lost within two years after stopping the supplements. In men, small benefits in total-body BMD may remain, but in women, no lasting benefits are seen at any bone site. Bone turnover rates also return to their original, higher levels after discontinuation, indicating that the protective effects on bone are not sustained without continued supplementation .
Calcium Supplementation Withdrawal in Children and Adolescents
Several studies have examined the effects of stopping calcium supplementation in children. In Nigerian toddlers, the increase in forearm BMD seen during 18 months of calcium supplementation was not sustained 12 months after stopping the supplement, except for a small benefit at one forearm site in one group . Similarly, in Hong Kong children, the higher bone mineral mass gained during 18 months of supplementation disappeared after withdrawal, with no difference between supplemented and control groups after follow-up. Pubertal status, rather than prior supplementation, was the strongest factor influencing bone growth during this period .
Long-Term Bone Mass Effects in Prepubertal Girls
One study found that prepubertal girls who received milk-extracted calcium phosphate for a period had a significant and lasting increase in bone mineral density and content more than three years after stopping supplementation, compared to those who did not receive supplements. This suggests that, in some cases, calcium supplementation during critical growth periods may have a long-term positive effect on bone mass accrual, even after discontinuation .
Patterns of Calcium Supplementation Discontinuation in Adults
Among postmenopausal women on osteoporosis therapy, about 23% discontinued calcium supplementation within the first year, whether they were using calcium alone or in combination with other osteoporosis medications. Many resumed calcium use later. Discontinuing pharmacologic osteoporosis therapy was linked to a higher likelihood of stopping calcium supplements as well .
Conclusion
The benefits of calcium supplementation on bone mineral density are generally not sustained after discontinuation in both elderly adults and children, with most gains lost within one to two years. However, there is some evidence that supplementation during key growth periods in childhood may have longer-lasting effects. Continued supplementation appears necessary to maintain bone health benefits, especially in older adults and populations at risk for bone loss 1245.
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