Effects Of Calcium On Women Weight Gain
Category : Women Health
Reporting in the July issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, shows that getting plenty of calcium might help fight the weight problem in middle aged women. Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have been able to understand the link between calcium supplements and weight gain after analyzing the health statistics nearly 10,000 U.S men and women. Increased total calcium intake in the form of supplements can help middle-aged adults maintain their weight over a number of years.
Dr. Alejandro J. Gonzalez of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle and colleagues found that women in their 50s, who took more than 500 milligrams of calcium on a daily basis, gained four pounds less over 10 years than women who did not use the supplements.
The study examined people’s intakes of dietary calcium, supplemental calcium and total calcium (supplements plus diet) to discover which forms of calcium were associated with weight change. The researchers found ???dietary calcium alone had no significant effect on 10-year weight change,??? but that women who took calcium supplements saw some improvement.
The study was funded by grants from the U.S. National Cancer Institute.
However, Gonzales told Reuters health that although more evidence from randomized clinical trials is needed before calcium supplements can be recommended specifically for weight loss, this study suggests that calcium supplements taken for other reasons (e.g., prevention of osteoporosis) may have a small beneficial influence on reducing weight gain, particularly among women approaching midlife.
Calcium is a mineral found in many foods and adequate calcium intake is important because the human body cannot produce calcium. Even after reaching full skeletal growth, adequate calcium intake is important because the body loses calcium every day through shed skin, nails, hair, and sweat as well as through urine and feces.
Most brand name calcium products are absorbed easily in the body. If the product information does not state that it is absorbable, how well a tablet dissolves can be determined by placing it in a small amount of warm water for 30 minutes, stirring it occasionally.
Adapted from Journal of the American Dietetic Association, July 2006.
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