Three WA universities have debunked the theory that there was a link between calcium supplements and the long-term risk of dementia.
New research from ECU, Curtin University and UWA has found no evidence that calcium monotherapy increases the long-term risk for dementia.
This work dispels previous concerns about its potential negative effects on brain health in older women.
ECU PhD student Negar Ghasemifard said calcium supplements were often recommended to prevent or manage osteoporosis.
She said about 20% of women over the age of 70 are affected by osteoporosis and calcium supplementation is widely recommended as a preventative measure against fracture.
“Previous research has raised concerns around the impacts that calcium supplements could have on cognitive health, particularly dementia,” Ms Ghasemifard said.
“Results from our study provides reassurance to patients and clinicians regarding the safety of calcium supplements in the context of dementia risk for older women.”
The study leveraged outcomes from prior research that provided calcium supplements or a placebo to 1460 older women over a five-year period.
ECU senior research fellow Dr Marc Sim noted that when the analysis was adjusted for supplement compliance and a range of lifestyle factors including dietary calcium intake and genetic risk, the results remained unchanged.
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“Previous research suggesting potential links between calcium supplement use and the risk for dementia was purely observational in nature,” he said.
“Our research, in comparison, consisted of a post-hoc analysis from a five-year double-blind, placebo controlled randomised clinical trial on calcium supplements to prevent fracture.
“Some 730 older women were given calcium supplements over five years, and a further 730 were given placebo. This study design offers more accurate data on dosage and duration, and we had a long follow-up period of 14.5 years, which strengthens our results.”
While these findings may alleviate concerns regarding calcium supplementation and all-cause dementia risk in older women, particularly after the age of 80 years, further research is needed.
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To confirm the current findings, particularly regarding brain health, and to address population gaps, future clinical trials of calcium supplements would need to be undertaken, the researchers said.
Dementia Australia honorary medical advisor Professor Blossom Stephan said the research highlighted an important finding that provided reassurance to health professionals and patients.
“Given calcium’s critical role in multiple physiological functions, including bone health, these results provide reassurance that long-term calcium supplementation did not increase dementia risk in older women,” she said.
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