Study Links Calcium Supplements to Longer Life Span in Women

First Posted: May 23, 2013 03:38 AM EDT
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Consuming calcium, an essential nutrient for bone health, helps women live longer, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).

The study, led by David Goltzman, M.D., of McGill University in Montreal, Canada, suggests that taking a calcium supplement of up to 1,000 mg per day helps women live longer.

Calcium, found in dairy products and vitamins, is known to be important for healthy bones. However, several studies conducted in the past have associated calcium supplements with heart disease risk. In the current study, researchers have noticed that moderate doses of calcium supplements had a positive effect in women.

"Our study found daily use of calcium supplements was associated with a lower risk of death among women," said Goltzman in a press statement. "The benefit was seen for women who took doses of up to 1,000 mg per day, regardless of whether the supplement contained vitamin D."

The longitudinal group study examined the health of 9,033 Canadians between 1995 and 2007, during which period 1,160 of them died. Over the course of the study, researchers noticed that women who consumed calcium supplements had a lower mortality rate compared to those who didn't have supplements. Conversely, it was also seen that there was no statistical benefit for men. However, the study could not provide definite evidence that vitamin D had an impact on mortality.

Goltzman says that greater the amount of calcium, longer the life span in women, irrespective of the source of calcium. Equal benefits were noticed when calcium came from non-diary food, dairy food or supplements.

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