Researcher shows calcium intake can lower cholesterol levels - Margo Denke

Nutrition Health Review, Wntr, 1994

DALLAS, TEXAS -- A new study conducted by Dr. Margo Denke at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas shows that calcium lowers cholesterol in the blood.

Denke's findings revealed that a diet fortified with calcium results in lower levels of total and low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and increases of high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The findings were reported in a recent issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

Denke, assistant professor of internal medicine with the Center for Human Nutrition at the university, said this is one of several studies showing a link between a high-calcium diet and lower cholesterol levels.

"How calcium acts to lower cholesterol is not clear. Our study provides some evidence that calcium prevents saturated fat from being absorbed," Senke said.

The average drop in total cholesterol was 13 milligrams per decileter (mg./dl). The LDL-cholesterol levels, the "bad" cholesterol dropped an average of 18 mg./dl, and the HDL cholesterol levels, the "good" cholesterol, rose an average of 2 mg./dl.

The 13 men in the study were divided into two groups. One group ate a low-calcium diet for 10 days, and the other ate a low-calcium diet plus supplementary calcium. After 10 days, the two groups switched diet plans. A 10-day diet period was selected because the most significant changes in cholesterol levels occur within 10 days after dietary modification, Denke explained.

The low-calcium diet derived 34 percent of its caloroes from fat (13 percent from saturated fat) and included 240 milligrams of cholesterol land 410 mg. of calcium. The other diet included an additional 1s,800 mg. of calcium with citric and malic acid.

The supplemental calcium came from fortified orange juice, calcium-fortiried muffins, and 500-mg. tablets. The calcium with citric and malic acid was used because it is the most soluble form of calcium and thereby reduces the risk of kidney stone formation.

Denke said the study indicates that calcium may be an effective addition to cholesterol-lowering diets. Denke recommends a daily intake of 800 mg. to 1,200 mg. of calcium. Most Americans consume between 500 mg. and 1,000 mg, of calcium daily, according to the National Research Council.

She suggested several good sources of calcium to reach those goals: One cup of calcium-fortiried orange juice contains approximately 300 mg. of calcium. One cup of 2 percent milk contains more than 300 mg. of calcium. Another good source of calcium is yogurt. One cup cotains 400 mg. One spear of broccoli contains 73 mg.

"Calcium-fortified orange juice is a good way to get more calcium in your diet because it contains a form of calcium that tends to reduce the risk of kidney stone formation," Denke said.