New Calcium Compound Prevents Fractures

A study has demonstrated that a new calcium compound can prevent fractures in postmenopausal women. Other calcium forms have failed to show this ability, says Dr. Takyo Fujita, director of the Osteoporosis Foundation in Japan, who conducted the study. The findings were reported at the annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) in Phoenix (AZ, USA).

The study involved three groups of elderly (mean age of 80), hospitalized, osteoporotic women. One group received 900 mg/day of the new compound, a second group took 900 mg/day of calcium carbonate, and a third received placebo. All three groups also received about 600 mg/day of additional calcium from food. None took other drugs or hormone therapies. After 27 months, the group taking the new compound reported no fractures per 1,000 patient years, the calcium carbonate group reported 357 fractures, and the placebo group reported 500 fractures.

The new compound, known as AAA Ca (AdvaCal) is a nonprescription, natural calcium supplement. The incidence of cervical spondylosis was also significantly reduced in patients taking AAA Ca compared to the other groups. More than 12 clinical studies support the benefits of the compound.

"These data is almost too good to believe,” said Dr. Fujita. "I've studied most every calcium supplement and have published over 400 papers on this mineral. I've never seen one that prevented fractures this dramatically.” Dr. Fujita is the director of the Japan Osteoporosis Institute.




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