Our Comments on The New England Journal of Medicine Calcium Study

In so many ways, the results of this study validate so much of what we have been saying about calcium and bone health over the years.

It is not one size fits all -
Bone health is not one size fits all, which is why we are not surprised with this result. If you put everybody on the same amount of calcium and vitamin D, some people will do better, other people worse, and many in the middle, which gives you a fair outcome.

Diet was never taken into account -
This is a key to the study. We don't care how much many supplements you take. If one eats the standard American diet, loaded with acidic and inflammatory food triggers, you are going to lose healthy bone and increase your fracture risk.

The calcium source was carbonate -
The equivalent of swallowing pulverized rock. Your body does not absorb it well. When taking a source that better mirrors the matrix of the bone, like MCHC, it is infinitely better absorbed.

Kidney stones increased -
This is the lynchpin of the study as far as we are concerned. If calcium is being absorbed properly and taken at a dose optimal for the INDIVIDUAL, kidney stones should not be an issue. This should be a clear sign that the calcium carbonate form is poorly absorbed and/or the dose was too much. Malabsorbed calcium can also create calcification in other areas of the body, like the arteries.

Small but significant improvement in bone density -
Some of the calcium carbonate is bound to be absorbed, but most is not and will leech out into other areas of the body.

Did not significantly reduce hip fracture -
Poorly absorbed calcium can do little to avoid fracture when most eat the standard American Diet, which distinigrates bone with excess acidity and inflammatory food triggers.

Magnesium was not used in the study -
It is a travesty that magnesium was not used in addition to the calcium and vitamin D. Magnesium and calcium need to be in balance. Without magnesium, calcium is very poorly absorbed.

Vitamin D dose was too low -
400IU is too low, especially if that is the only supplemental intake one is getting.

Started on postemenopausal women 50 to 79 -
This is probably too late to start the study. Much of the damage to the bone has already been done and it is asking too much for the supplements to reverse the process. Early childhood sets the tone for bone health with diet and adequate vitamin/mineral intake.

With all the aforementioned variables that were not taken into account in this sutdy, it is no wonder that our mantra since we have been in business is, "one size does not fit all." There are many variables that need to be taken into account when assessing bone health. For further information, read our Healthy Bones Action Plan at nutritionalconcepts.com.

Bonnie and Steve