Have calcium, live longer

Calcium-rich diet helps women live longer, new study discovers

Glass of milkRegular consumption of a calcium supplement [around 1,000 mg per day] can help women live longer, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

“Our study found daily use of calcium supplements was associated with a lower risk of death among women,” said the study’s lead author, David Goltzman, MD, of McGill University in Montreal, Canada. “The benefit was seen for women who took doses of up to 1,000 mg per day, regardless of whether the supplement contained vitamin D.”

The longitudinal cohort study tracked the health of 9,033 Canadians between 1995 and 2007. During these years, 1,160 participants died. The numbers showed that only women who took calcium supplements had a lower mortality risk, there was no statistical benefit for men.

“Higher amounts of calcium were potentially linked to longer lifespans in women, regardless of the source of the calcium,” Goltzman said. “That is, the same benefits were seen when the calcium came from dairy foods, non-dairy foods or supplements.”

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