Calcium intake
Posted , 8 users are following.
Hi, I am new to this site. 2 years ago i was diagnosed with osteopenia and not given any medication. I have had another scan and am now in full osteoparosis. My GP said i had a lot of bone loss for my age (just 60) and it was probably due to starting the menopause at 42 and having last period at 49. I am on Fultium capsules and a Alendronic Acid 70mg tablet once a week. I have been told to get 1000mg calcium through food and drink a day. This is a lot of milk and cheese and i am worried about what this can cause eg cholestral. I know i can get calcium in other foods like sardines, brocolli etc but i am only 8st 6lbs and 5'5" and dont eat that much. If i have around 2 pints of semi skimmed milk a day i wont wont any food. Does anyone else have this problem - any help/ideas please. ps/ i have made an appt for the GP again in April to try and find out how bad this is - i have seen others on this site using a T score
1 like, 13 replies
libsan jane86878
Posted
I had exactly the same problem ..... I hadpractically doubled my intake of food and always felt full (probably a good thing!?) to try and get my quote in
Now I have 30 gm of Readybrek with 150 ml of skimmed milk for breakfast. As this cereal is fortified with calcium and vitamins, it gives me everything I need and then I eat as I normally would throughout the day.
jane86878 libsan
Posted
Anhaga jane86878
Posted
Remember it's not just calcium you need. You get traces of calcium in a lot of foods, not dairy, but you didn't say you'd been told to take Vitamin D3. Another must have nutrient is Vitamin K2 (not K1 which you'll be getting from your leafy greens) and sufficient magnesium. Vitamin K2 and magnesium are what make sure calcium gets into the bones, Vitamin D can't do that. I'm not on any bone meds but I did, through diet, supplements and appropriate exercise improve my t-score from -2 to -1.6 in one year. I weigh just over 100 lb, can't be bothered to do the math to translate that into stone. But it isn't much.
Remember you can get calcium from yoghurt and kefir as well, which because they are fermented foods are healthier than plain liquid milk.
Anhaga
Posted
wish for an edit button not "just" dairy!
jane86878 Anhaga
Posted
Anhaga jane86878
Posted
Okay, that's good. That's the problem with brand names - they don't always translate into anything meaningful in other countries.
jennifer54532 jane86878
Posted
jane86878 jennifer54532
Posted
Hi I didn't know there was a score on osteoporosis and was quite shocked when doctor told me that I didn't ask any questions. I have a Dr's appt at end of month to ask my questions
ruby06073 jane86878
Posted
Hi Jane, I don't think I can help you as I rejected the Alendronic Acid when I was told I had osteoporosis in my spine. I use supplements like magnesium, zinc, K2 calcium and D3 tablets along with exercise and soya isoflavones, in the hope, this will slow down the bone loss. But I can tell you that when they gave me the prescription for alendronic acid they also gave me a prescription for calcichews with vitamin D3 in them, they work together with the alendronic acid I am led to believe.
Anhaga ruby06073
Posted
I think the reason for the calcium and D3 is because AA can't work properly if you are low in calcium. It makes sense to get enough micronutrients anyway, AA or not. They seem to be prescribed to most PMR patients in the UK, whether or not they are on any OP drugs.
BoneAmi jane86878
Posted
You said, "If i have around 2 pints of semi skimmed milk a day i wont wont any food."?
jane86878 BoneAmi
Posted
BoneAmi jane86878
Posted
I thought that was what you meant...sounds like you're a light-weight. It seems like a lot of us who have osteoporosis are. I feel like I eat, and eat, and eat, but stay the same weight. I understand your concern about the cholesterol too. I found an organic plant calcium supplement that is food-based, so think I might be avoiding that issue. However, I am doing the Forteo injections for OP, and after being on it about a year the doctor sent me for a blood test to check calcium level and it was high. He did one early on (a month after I started the injections) as well but it came back normal..just something else you might want to be aware of and ask your doctor about. I'm not real familiar with the drug they have started you on, but IF it can affect your calcium levels I think I would ask your doctor to do a calcium check more often than I was treated by my doctor.