Calcium Builds Bone In Pre- and Postmenopausal Women

VRP Staff

In a surprising new study investigating factors that affect bone mineral density, researchers discovered that calcium intake may be more important to premenopausal women than physical activity.

Scientists investigated the effect of long-term physical activity and calcium intake on specific bones (the non-weight-bearing radius and weight-bearing tibia) of 218 healthy, nonsmoking women. The subjects included 92 premenopausal women, average age 33 years, and 126 postmenopausal women, average age 67 years. Subjects were divided according to habitual levels of physical activity and calcium intake. The researchers then measured the bone mineral content, density and strength at the distal end and shaft regions of the radius and tibia.

Surprisingly, the bone mineral content at the distal radius in the premenopausal women actively engaged in physical activity was 6.9% lower than that of the groups who were not physically active. In the postmenopausal group, however, bone mineral content was 5% higher in the group who exercised regularly. When it came to calcium intake, however, bone mineral content of the radial bone was higher in the women who consumed more calcium, regardless of whether they were pre- or postmenopausal.

Reference:
Uusi-Rasi K, Sievanen H, Pasanen M, Oja P, Vuori I. Associations of calcium intake and physical activity with bone density and size in premenopausal and postmenopausal women: a peripheral quantitative computed tomography study. J Bone Miner Res. 2002 Mar;17(3):544-52.