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Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland 1020, New Zealand
Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Ian Reid, Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1020, New Zealand. E-mail: i.reid{at}auckland.ac.nz.
Context: Epidemiological data suggest that high calcium intakes are associated with decreased body weight and blood pressure. However, there is little evidence from randomized trials that addresses these important issues.
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the long-term effects of calcium on body weight and blood pressure.
Design: This is a substudy of an ongoing, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of calcium supplementation. End points were assessed at 30 months.
Setting: This study was performed at a university medical center.
Participants: Normal postmenopausal women (mean age, 74 yr; mean weight, 67 kg; mean blood pressure, 134/70 mm Hg at baseline) participated in this study.
Intervention: Study subjects were treated with calcium (1 g/d; n = 732) and placebo (n = 739).
Main Outcome Measures: Body weight and blood pressure were the main outcome measures.
Results: Weight decreased by 368 ± 132 g (mean ± SE) with calcium treatment and by 369 ± 134 g with placebo (P = 0.93). Fat and lean masses did not show an effect of calcium. Blood pressure showed transient reductions of 1–2 mm Hg at 6 months in the calcium group, resulting in a significant between-group difference only for systolic pressure (P = 0.048). At 30 months, the change from baseline in systolic pressure was 0.0 ± 0.9 mm Hg in the calcium group and 2.4 ± 0.9 mm Hg in the placebo group (P = 0.14). For diastolic pressures, the changes were –0.2 ± 0.4 and 0.8 ± 0.4 mm Hg, respectively (P = 0.13). In those with baseline calcium intakes less than 600 mg/d, the treatment effect was greater and did persist.
Conclusions: Calcium supplementation of 1 g/d does not produce biologically significant effects on body weight, and its hypotensive effect is small and transient in most women.
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