There is good evidence that calcium intake influences bone mass in all age groups. In children and adolescents a positive effect of calcium on bone mass has been reported in cross-sectional and intervention studies. In a prospective study the dietary calcium intake in childhood and adolescence resulted positively related to bone mass in young women. A recent meta-analysis of 33 studies has shown that there was a significant association between calcium intake and bone mass in premenopausal women, while this relationship was not significant in young men.
In adults, calcium supplementation reduces the rate of age-related bone loss. A review of 20 prospective calcium trials in postmenopausal women concluded that combined with the active agent. However, no studies have addressed the question of how much calcium may be required during treatment with bone-active agents. The optimal calcium intake in conjunction with antiresorptive therapy is unknown, although there is a general agreement to provide at least 1200 mg/day of calcium in patients receiving antiresorptive agents. Both mechanical loading on the skeleton and adequate
nutrition are essential for the maintenance of bone mass. Exercise and calcium intake are important determinants of
peak bone mass during childhood and adolescence. Later in life, some of the age-related bone loss results from a decline in physical activity. Studies evaluating the combined effect of increased calcium intake and increased exercise in young and postmenopausal women have shown more striking benefits than those produced by either modality alone