Osteoporosis

Calcium intake has a role on the development of peak bone mass, and has a mild impact on the maintenance of bone mass during adulthood and the reduction of bone loss rate in postmenopausal women and the elderly in both genders. Calcium dietary intake should be privileged over supplementation. Dairy products are the main calcium dietary sources. Prospective studies have not clearly demonstrated an effect on the prevention of fractures, because of the practical difficulties of a long follow-up in order to get to solid conclusions; however the physiological rationale is that an adequate calcium intake and 25(OH) vitamin D levels exceeding 20 ng/ml is beneficial for bone health and may decrease to certain extent the risk of fractures.