It is usually believed calcium pills can protect the bones, but a new study has failed to agree with the common theory.
Researchers say increasing the intake of calcium supplements or calcium through dietary sources may not help in improving the health of bones in older people and it should also not be prescribed in fracture treatment.
As per dietary guidelines it is said older citizens should take at least 1000-1200 mg/day of calcium in order to prevent fractures and improve the bone density. To meet with the results many take calcium supplements.
Details of the new findings are published in The BMJ journal.
Karl Michaelsson from Uppsala University in Sweden said the whole older population above the age of 50 is at risk as they have been prescribed the intakes of calcium and vitamin D by the dietary guidelines. They are exposed to the greater risk of adverse events.
Global calcium supplements market is worth $4 billion annually if believed to a paper published in 2014. However, compared to half-a-decade ago the size of market has come down significantly in the light of some similar findings in past few years.
The new study says there is no clinical trial evidence that fractures can be prevented with increasing calcium intake from dietary sources in senior citizens.
There is some evidence that calcium absorption quality is reduced and calcium loss increases in old age.
