Nutrition and osteoporosis: facts and uncertainties about calcium and vitamin D recommendations.

Abstract

The current calcium recommendations in Europe are lower than in USA. During the growth, although intervention studies had shown bone mass gains with calcium supplementation, these effects did not persist after withdrawal of the supplements and so the long-term effects of calcium supplementation on peak bone mass are not known. Besides, the relative importance of the several factors that influence peak bone mass needs to be established.