HEALTH ALERT: CALCIUM-RICH DIET MAY HELP WOMEN LIVE LONGER

CALCIUM-RICH DIET MAY HELP WOMEN LIVE LONGER

Published May 23, 2013 in Food Product Design 

MONTREAL—Women who consume a diet rich in dairy foods, non-dairy foods or supplements may have a longer lifespan compared those who do not have a calcium-rich diet, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Although calcium is an essential nutrient for bone health, past studies have linked calcium supplements to heart disease risk. Researchers located at universities across Canada analyzed data from the large-scale Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMos) to determine whether calcium and vitamin D intake were associated with overall increased risk of death.

“We found that daily use of calcium supplements in women was associated with a lower risk of death, irrespective of cause," said the study’s lead author, Prof. David Goltzman, director, Calcium Research Laboratory at McGill University Health Care. “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 study of participants living in or near nine cities across Canada monitored the health of 9,033 Canadians between 1995 and 2007. During that period, 1,160 participants died. Although the data showed women who took calcium supplements had a lower mortality risk, there was no statistical benefit for men. The study found no conclusive evidence that vitamin D had an impact on mortality.
“Higher amounts of calcium were potentially linked to longer lifespans in women, regardless of the source of the calcium," Goltzman said. “In other words, the same benefits were seen when the calcium came from dairy foods, non-dairy foods or supplements."

Sources:

• McGill University: Calcium Supplements Linked to Longer Lifespans in Women

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