New study reports-Calcium & vitamin D for bones doesn't help

besa

https://m.medicalxpress.com/news/2017-12-calcium-v...

"Researchers who scoured the medical literature for evidence that calcium and vitamin D pills could help prevent bone fractures came up empty.

Their analysis focused on adults older than age 50 who lived on their own (that is, not in a nursing home or other type of residential care facility"

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abst...

Anonymous

I have a few questions about the study: how much Vit D was given? How much calcium?

I take Vit D because it seems to help better protect from other cancers; as well, low levels of Vit D are linked to b.c. recurrence.

https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2016/vitamin-d-metastasis

Herculesmulligan

It's always interesting to read new studies. I currently take calcium and vitamin D supplements because if I slack off I get joint pain. This was the case before I had cancer but more so since I'm on tamoxifen. So I'm going to continue with my regimen.

edwards750

While I am interested in new studies I also take it with a grain of salt. There are multiple ways to tweak these studies and so many factors that contribute or not to them.

How many women were tested? What was their overall health? They make these claims like this study is gospel. It’s not. It’s one that made headlines. I saw it on GMA. The response from their resident doctor was exercise, don’t smoke, limit drinking and more weight bearing exercises. Blah, blah. Already knew all that.

My doctor prescribed Boniva, Vitamin D and calcium supplements because I have osteoporosis. I’ll continue taking these meds. Plus there are a lot of foods that contain calcium. Sometimes it’s just common sense.

Stick with the game plan prescribed by your doctor. I also believe in everything in moderation. We have all seen cases where you abstain from certain foods totally and it doesn’t prevent a medical condition or disease.

Diane

chronicpain

Edwards750: With known osteoporosis, of everything you are doing, the boniva, who helps prevent bone breakdown, is the agent most likely to lower your fracture risk (that and fall prevention).

All this well-publicized Chinese study suggests is that calcium and vitamin D alone ( unclear if enough was taken or if people were compliant) did not significantlylower fracture risk in a vulnerable population, which is not earthshaking news.