Bone mineral loss in men: effects of calcium and cholecalciferol - research at Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Oregon Health Sciences University

Nutrition Research Newsletter, March, 1990

BONE MINERAL LOSS IN MEN: EFFECTS OF CALCIUM AND CHOLECALCIFEROL

Much of the research on bone mineral loss has focused on women, and the studies that have examined male subjects have been cross-sectional. Researchers from Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon, now present data from the first substantive longitudinal evaluation of the rate of change in bone mineral content in men.

Eighty-six normal white males aged 30 to 87 years were recruited from the Portland community to participate in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of supplementation with calcium (1000 mg/day) and cholecalciferol (25 [micro]g/day), the latter to ensure that 25-(OH)D levels were adequate. Participants were followed-up for three years, with assessments of bone mineral content and serum and urine analysis at three-month intervals. Dietary assessments were made annually.

Despite an already high average dietary intake of calcium (1159 [ or -] 576 mg/day) and a generous calcium supplement, there was a substantial rate of bone loss. The rate of decline at the vertebral site (2.3%/year) was twice as rapid as that at the radial sites, and was more rapid at all sites than predicted from cross-sectional data. The administration of calcium or cholecalciferol supplements did not alter the rates of bone loss in this study.

These findings confirm that osteoporosis is not confined to postmenopausal women. "Normal men experience a substantial loss at both axial and appendicular sites that is not prevented by calcium and vitamin D supplementation in a well-nourished population."

Eric S Orwoll et al, The Rate of Bone Mineral Loss in Normal Men and the Effects of Calcium and Cholecalciferol Supplementation, Annals of Internal Medicine 112(1):29-34 (1 Jan 1990) [Reprints: Eric S Orwoll, MD, Medical Services (111), Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, PO Box 1034, Portland OR 97207].