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Calcium turnover and nutrition through the life cycle*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 January 2013

Steven A. Abrams
Steven A. Abrams*
Affiliation:
US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
*
Corresponding author: Dr S. A. Abrams, fax +1 713 798 7119, email sabrams@bcm.tmc.edu
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Abstract

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Ca nutritional requirements and bone Ca turnover can be assessed using numerous techniques. Among these techniques are bone mass measurements, tracer kinetic studies, bone histomorphometry and biochemical studies. Stable-isotope-based kinetic studies offer unique advantages in their ability to assess both Ca absorption and turnover. This approach is safe and readily applicable to subjects of all ages. Ca is essential for growth and maintenance of bone mineral throughout life. During pregnancy, increased intestinal absorption of Ca by the mother provides much of the Ca supplied to the fetus. During infancy, Ca supplied in human milk is primarily derived from maternal bone stores, which are quickly replenished during and after weaning. Early childhood is a time of relatively slow bone growth, with a rapid increase occurring during puberty. Recent kinetic studies demonstrate an increase in both Ca absorption and bone Ca deposition associated with early puberty. Bone Ca deposition reaches a maximum in females shortly before menarche. At that time the bone Ca deposition rate is approximately five times that of adulthood. The decline in bone Ca deposition rate is gradual after menarche. Ca absorption from the diet shows a gradual decline in adulthood as well. Ca supplementation, in the presence of adequate vitamin D, is effective in enhancing bone mineral content in childhood and in helping to maintain bone mineral content in adults. Maintaining adequate Ca nutriture throughout life may be necessary to minimize the risk of bone-loss disorders.

Keywords

Calcium: Bone turnoverStable isotopes
Type
Clinical Metabolism and Nutrition Group Symposium on ‘Nutritional aspects of bone metabolism from molecules to organisms’
Information
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 60 , Issue 2 , May 2001 , pp. 283 - 289
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2001

Footnotes

*

This work is a publication of the US Department of Agriculture(USDA)/Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine and Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA. Contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the USDA, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endoresement by the US Government.

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