A calcium‐collagen chelate dietary supplement prevents bone loss in postmenopausal women with osteopenia (LB421)

Abstract

Menopause leads to an increased risk for osteoporosis in women. Although drug therapies exist, increasing numbers of people prefer natural therapies such as dietary supplements, e.g. calcium, vitamin D, and collagen, for the treatment of osteoporosis. We have previously shown that a three‐month intervention using a calcium‐collagen chelate dietary supplement (CC) was efficacious in improving bone mineral density (BMD) and reducing markers of bone turnover in osteopenic postmenopausal women. The present study reports the long‐term efficacy of CC in reducing bone loss in postmenopausal women with osteopenia. Thirty‐nine women were randomly assigned to receive either 5 g of CC containing 500 mg of elemental calcium in the form of calcium carbonate and 200 IU vitamin D (1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3) or 500 mg of calcium and 200 IU vitamin D (control). Total body BMD and BMD of the lumbar spine and hip were evaluated at baseline, six and twelve months using dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry. Blood was collected at baseline, six and twelve months to assess serum biomarkers of bone turnover using enzyme‐linked immunosorbant assay methods. Intention‐to‐treat analysis was performed using repeated measures ANOVA pairwise comparisons as well as multivariate analysis to assess time and group interactions. CC prevented the loss of whole body BMD (CC: ‐0.004 vs. control: ‐0.011; P < 0.05) at twelve months when compared to control. The CC group had reduced levels of tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP5b) (P < 0.05) at six months and higher bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP)/TRAP5b concentrations (P < 0.05) at six and tended (P < 1.0) to be higher at twelve months whereas there were no changes in control. Sclerostin levels tended (P < 1.0) to be lower at six months in the CC group whereas there were no changes in control. These results support use of CC in attenuating the loss of bone mass in osteopenic postmenopausal women.Grant Funding Source: AIDP, Inc.