CalciumNEW2026-10

Dietary Calcium Intake in Patients Evaluated for Bone Fragility, with a Focus on Women Receiving Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy for Breast Cancer: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study.

Firmani Francesca, Ciarloni Alessandro, Sabatelli Sofia, Gianfelice Claudio et al. — Nutrients

Summary

This study examined the dietary calcium intake among people with fragile bones, particularly women undergoing breast cancer treatment. It found that many individuals in these groups, including those at higher risk due to their therapy, were not consuming enough dietary calcium to support bone health. This highlights a critical need for improved nutritional guidance in these vulnerable populations.

AI-generated summary — read the original

Key points

Many individuals with bone fragility do not consume enough dietary calcium.
Women undergoing breast cancer treatment, who are at higher risk for bone issues, often have lower calcium intake.
Adequate calcium intake is crucial for maintaining bone health, especially for those with existing bone fragility.
Healthcare providers should encourage increased calcium intake in these vulnerable patient groups.

What the study looked at

What question the study asked: This study aimed to understand the dietary calcium intake among patients with bone fragility, specifically focusing on women receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer, who are at increased risk for secondary osteoporosis. How it was studied (design/participants): Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study involving 132 patients referred to an osteoporosis clinic in Italy. Participants' dietary calcium intake was assessed using a 7-day food frequency questionnaire, alongside other bone health measurements. Most participants were postmenopausal women with severe osteoporosis or at risk of secondary osteoporosis, with many receiving breast cancer treatment. What it found: The study found that the average dietary calcium intake for the entire group was about 959 mg/day, which is often below recommended levels. Specifically, women undergoing breast cancer treatment had an average intake of 854 mg/day, indicating insufficient calcium consumption in this high-risk group. Younger patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis also showed lower intake. The findings suggest a widespread need to improve calcium intake among patients with bone fragility.

Dietary takeaway

For individuals with fragile bones, especially women undergoing breast cancer treatment, it's important to actively ensure adequate calcium intake through diet. This means prioritizing calcium-rich foods like dairy products (low-fat and fermented options can be good choices), fortified plant-based milks, leafy greens, and certain fish. Remember that this is one study, and dietary recommendations should always be discussed with a healthcare professional.

Abstract

: Adequate dietary calcium intake is essential for bone health. Despite this, calcium intake is still insufficient in many countries of the world. The study aims to provide information about dietary calcium intake of specific populations with bone fragility, with a particular focus on patients at risk of secondary osteoporosis due to adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) for breast cancer (BC). : Data from 132 patients referred for the first time to the Osteoporosis and Bone Metabolism Diseases outpatient clinic of the Division of Endocrinology of the Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria delle Marche (Ancona, Italy) were collected. Dietary calcium intake was assessed with a 7-day food frequency questionnaire; biochemical and densitometric parameters, osteoporosis etiology, and previous fragility fractures were also reported. : Patients were predominantly postmenopausal women, with severe osteoporosis (43.2%) or at risk of secondary osteoporosis (40.9%); 64.8% of patients evaluated for secondary osteoporosis were women on AET for BC. Total mean dietary calcium intake was 959 ± 396 mg/day. A lower intake was observed in younger patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis (848 ± 471 mg/day, = 0.03). Patients with normal bone mineral density (631 ± 131 mg/day), without fragility fractures (906 ± 361), and evaluated for secondary osteoporosis (900 ± 364 mg/day) tended to have lower mean dietary calcium intake although without reaching statistical significance. Mean calcium intake was also lower than the recommended threshold in women on AET for BC (854 ± 345 mg/day). : Patients with bone fragility should be more encouraged to increase their dietary calcium intake. Attention must be paid to women with BC on AET, who have high fracture risk and should not be discouraged a priori from consuming selected dairy products (low-fat and fermented ones) and alternative calcium dietary sources.

View on PubMed →DOI: 10.3390/nu18193239