An expert consensus meeting of the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) and the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has reviewed the evidence for the value of calcium supplementation, with or without vitamin D supplementation, in healthy musculoskeletal ageing.
Professor René Rizzoli, Chair of the ESCEO Scientific Advisory Board, stated, "Our aim was to comprehensively appraise current knowledge relating to the efficacy of calcium supplementation, particularly in combination with vitamin D supplementation, for healthy musculoskeletal ageing, and specifically for reduction of fracture risk. We also felt it was important to address the evidence supporting claims of adverse health outcomes from supplementation as conflicting reports have caused some confusion among healthcare professionals, patients and the general public."
Based on current evidence, the expert panel concluded:
Professor Cyrus Cooper, Chair of the IOF Committee of Scientific Advisors, stated: "Osteoporotic fractures are common, and loss of both bone, and muscle mass and function, predispose to serious health-defining events. In some countries, the lifetime risk of an incident fracture from the age of 50 years is 1 in 2 (50 %) for women and 1 in 5 (20 %) for men. In addition to causing substantial disability and morbidity, major osteoporotic fractures are associated with an approximately 20 % reduction in survival relative to non-fracture patients. The role of calcium and vitamin D supplementation should be therefore appreciated in the context of a devastating health outcome, which has massive impact not only on individuals but also on healthcare systems and societies as a whole."
The review 'The role of calcium supplementation in healthy musculoskeletal ageing' has been published in Osteoporosis International .
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Reference and further reading: Harvey, N.C., Biver, E., Kaufman, JM. et al. The role of calcium supplementation in healthy musculoskeletal ageing. Osteoporos Int (2016). doi:10.1007/s00198-016-3773-6 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00198-016-3773-6
About Osteoporosis International : An international multi-disciplinary journal which is a joint initiative between the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) of the USA, Osteoporosis International provides an interdisciplinary platform for the communication of high quality original, experimental or clinical papers on all aspects of osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases. It publishes studies pertaining to the diagnosis, prevention, treatment and management of osteoporosis, and the spectrum of disorders that deficiencies in bone density can produce. Co-Editors in Chief: John A. Kanis, Felicia Cosman ISSN: 0937-941X (print version) / ISSN: 1433-2965 (electronic version) http://www.springer.com/medicine/orthopedics/journal/198
About IOF: The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) is the world's largest nongovernmental organization dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases. IOF members include leading scientific experts and 234 patient and medical societies in 99 countries or territories, representing 83% of the world's population. The IOF community works together to make fragility fracture prevention and healthy mobility a global health care priority. http://www.iofbonehealth.org / http://www.facebook.com/iofbonehealth @iofbonehealth
Osteoporosis International