Osteoporosis News:

Osteoporosis Patients Advised to Combine Calcium with Phosphorus

Osteoporosis patients should combine calcium with phosphorus to avoid phosphorus deficiency, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

Patients with osteoporosis should receive their calcium in the form of calcium phosphate because as calcium intake increases without a corresponding increase in phosphorus, total phosphorus absorption falls and the risk for phosphorous deficiency rises. A deficiency in phosphorus can make calcium supplements less effective and lead to increased bone loss.

"This means that even if women at risk for bone loss were taking calcium supplements, without the necessary phosphorus, these supplements would not only fail to stem the bone loss, but could even lead to an overall phosphorus deficiency," said Dr. Machelle Seibel, women's health and nutrition expert.

"Phosphorus is required to merge calcium into bone. This typically takes place in the intestinal tract," she said. "Without enough phosphorus in their systems, the millions of American women taking over-the-counter calcium supplements may be robbing their bodies' natural store of phosphorus in order to digest the calcium they take. Making sure your calcium supplement contains phosphorus is a good way to avoid this."

"This news is going to affect millions of American women -- particularly the 44 million who are currently suffering with osteoporosis and those at risk for developing low bone mass," said Seibel.

Source: Medical Week staff, week of June 9, 2002