Calcium supplements and bone health
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/calcium-supplements/MY01413
- With Mayo Clinic nutritionists
Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Katherine Zeratsky and Jennifer Nelson
Jennifer K. Nelson, M.S., R.D., L.D., C.N.S.D.
Jennifer Nelson is your link to a better diet. As specialty editor of the nutrition and healthy eating guide, she plays a vital role in bringing you healthy recipes and meal planning."Nutrition is one way people have direct control over the quality of their lives," she says. "I hope to translate the science of nutrition into ways that people can select and prepare great-tasting foods that help maintain health and treat disease."
A St. Paul, Minn., native, she has been with Mayo Clinic since 1978, and is director of clinical dietetics and an associate professor of nutrition at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
She leads clinical nutrition efforts for a staff of more than 60 clinical dietitians and nine dietetic technicians and oversees nutrition services, staffing, strategic and financial planning, and quality improvement. Nelson was co-editor of the "Mayo Clinic Diet" and the James Beard Foundation Award-winning "The New Mayo Clinic Cookbook." She has been a contributing author to and reviewer of many other Mayo Clinic books, including "Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight for EveryBody," "The Mayo Clinic Family Health Book" and "The Mayo Clinic/Williams Sonoma Cookbook." She contributes to the strategic direction of the Food & Nutrition Center, which includes creating recipes and menus, reviewing nutrition content of various articles, and providing expert answers to nutrition questions.
Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
As a specialty editor of the nutrition and healthy eating guide, Katherine Zeratsky helps you sort through the facts and figures, the fads and the hype to learn more about nutrition and diet.A Marinette, Wis., native, she is certified in dietetics by the state of Minnesota and the American Dietetic Association. She has been with Mayo Clinic since 1999.
She's active in nutrition-related curriculum and course development in wellness nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and nutrition related to weight management and practical applications of nutrition-related lifestyle changes.
Other areas of interest include food and nutrition for all life stages, active lifestyles and the culinary arts.
She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, served a dietetic internship at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and worked as a registered dietitian and health risk counselor at ThedaCare of Appleton, Wis., before joining the Mayo Clinic staff.
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Nutrition-wise blog
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Aug. 21, 2010
Calcium supplements and bone health
By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
Calcium supplements have long been considered a safe complement or replacement for dietary calcium. But recently a report came out saying that people who take calcium supplements are at greater risk of a heart attack.
Don't throw away your calcium supplements yet. There's more to the story. The results of this particular study are not conclusive and, thus, not sufficient to dictate a change in recommendations about calcium supplements for otherwise healthy people.
If you're not meeting your daily calcium requirements with low-fat dairy and other calcium-containing foods, then a calcium supplement may help. (It's a good idea to talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian if you have concerns about taking dietary supplements.)
But a diet rich in calcium is only part of maintaining bone health. The best prescription for healthy bones also includes:
- Getting enough calcium in childhood to reach peak bone density.
- Performing weight-bearing exercise, which helps bones stay strong.
- Getting enough vitamin D. Your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium.
Did this media report make you rethink your use of calcium supplements? If so, what are your plans for protecting your bone health?
To your health,
Katherine
31 comments posted
- Reid IR, et al. Does calcium supplementation increase cardiovascular risk? Clinical Endocrinology (Oxford). In press. Accessed Aug. 17, 2010.
- Lewis JR, et al. Calcium supplementation and the risks of atherosclerotic vascular disease in older women: Results of a 5-year RCT and a 4.5-year follow-up. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. In press. Accessed Aug. 17, 2010.
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