New Delhi, 7 October (IANS). Australian researchers have claimed a study that elderly women do not have the long-term risk of dementia from calcium monotherapy.
Calcium supplements play an important role in many physical functions, including improving bone health.
The study conducted by a team at Edith Kovan University (ECU), Curtin University and Western Australia University has removed earlier concerns about the possible negative effects of calcium supplements on the brain health of older women.
The team tested the results of the previous research. In which 1,460 old women were given calcium supplements or placebo in a period of five years. The results published in The Lancet Regional Health-Western Pacific found that the supplement did not increase their dementia risk.
“Calcium supplements are often recommended to prevent or manage osteoporosis at the ECU.
“The results of our studies assure patients and physicians about the safety of calcium supplements in terms of the risk of dementia in older women,” Ghasimifard said.
About 20 percent of women over the age of 70 are affected by osteoporosis and are advised to take calcium supplements to prevent fractures.
Although these findings may reduce the concerns related to older women, especially after the age of 80 years, calcium supplements and all cousin dementia risk (high BP, Colostrol, etc.), the team said that further research is still needed.
Professor Simon Lodge, director of the ECU Center for Prison Health, said, “It is still unknown whether it also applies to other demographic groups, such as men or even women, who start taking supplements at an early age in life,” said.
Lodge stressed the need for clinical trials of calcium supplements, with or without vitamin D, to confirm the current findings (especially in relation to brain health) and to remove these intervals between population. He said that these should include specific and solid assessments of brain health as primary result measurements.
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