The rate of bone mineral loss in normal men and the effects of calcium and cholecalciferol supplementation.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the rate of bone loss in normal men, and to examine the effects of dietary calcium and cholecalciferol supplementation on bone loss in men.

DESIGN

Double-blinded, placebo-controlled 3-year trial of supplementation with calcium (1000 mg/d) and cholecalciferol (25 micrograms/d).

SETTING

Clinical research center at a university medical facility.

SUBJECTS

Normal men 30 to 87 years old, recruited from the Portland community.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Radial bone mineral content (assessed by single-photon absorptiometry) fell by 1.0%/y (95% CI, -1.3% to 0.7%) at a proximal radial site and 1.0%/y (95% CI, -1.4% to -0.6%) at a distal radial site. Vertebral bone mineral content (assessed by dual-energy quantitative computed tomography) declined by 2.3%/y (95% CI, -2.8% to -1.8%). In these healthy men with a high basal dietary calcium intake (1159 mg/d), calcium and cholecalciferol supplementation did not affect bone loss at any site.

CONCLUSIONS

Normal men experience a substantial bone loss at both axial and appendicular sites that is not prevented by calcium and vitamin D supplementation in a well-nourished population.