Vitamins, minerals and supplements in the news
August 2010 - Biocalth's Positive Response To Meta-Analysis Of Calcium Supplementation
Principle Healthcare, the makers of BioCalth, have distanced their product from the findings of a meta-analysis of calcium supplements, published by Prof Ian Reid’s group from the University of Auckland.
Unique to Europe and North America, BioCalth is based on calcium L-threonate, a vitamin C metabolite, which is quite distinct from calcium carbonate, the source of calcium in eight of the studies reviewed, and the other forms of calcium supplement featured, including calcium nitrate and calcium lactogluconate-carbonate.
Scientific studies show that calcium L-threonate is a highly effective biocarrier for calcium and ensures a 95% absorption to the bones within 15 minutes, compared with between 10% and 45% for regular calcium supplements. This high bioavailabiity enhances the body’s calcium utilisation and improves the activity and functioning of bone-forming osteoblast cells, helping to ensure the optimum restoration and renewal of bone tissue.
A broad range of scientific research has demonstrated that an adequate intake of calcium plays an important role in maintaining bone mass, helping to prevent osteoporosis and other degenerative bone disorders. However, many modern diets, which are low in milk, cheese, butter, white bread and other natural sources, may be lacking in calcium, with the latest diet and nutrition data indicating that 10% of young women have an intake below the Lower Reference Nutrient Intake (LRNI). For these and other ‘at risk’ groups, including post-menopausal women and those on super-low-calorie diets, supplementation helps to ensure sufficient intake and correct calcium deficiencies.
"Like others, such as Osteoporosis Australia and the US Council for Responsible Nutrition, we are concerned that this study risks throwing the baby out with the bathwater and prompting many women to stop taking calcium supplements, because of a perceived risk of heart attacks," says Principle Healthcare’s Marketing Director, Fiona Wiseman.
"We also wonder how the 30% headline figure quoted in the BMJ-published report was arrived at, since our analysis of the stated figures suggests 2.72% of myocardial infarction amongst calcium supplement users and 2.24% amongst the placebo group, which is not significant in statistical terms,” she continued. “Besides, incidents of death recorded amongst the placebo group amounted to 9.22% and were actually slightly lower amongst calcium users at 9.14%.
"Meta-analysis of this type, which combines the results of other studies, does have it limitations and can be open to agenda-driven interpretation. This particular analysis could have included hundreds of scientific studies on calcium supplementation, but only 15 trials were considered eligible for inclusion. Also, the main findings focused on just 5 trails and the authors of this meta-analysis were themselves involved in several of these earlier studies, suggesting they are re-analysing their own data.
"To further this area of research and bring calcium L-threonate into the equation, so that its quite separate characteristics can be fully evaluated, we would invite Professor Reid and his team to carry out clinical trials using BioCalth. Calcium L-threonate has already been approved by the European Food Safety Authority as safe for use in supplements and we believe it has an important contribution to make in the battle against a highly preventable disease, osteoporosis."
Further enquiries to Principle Healthcare, Airedale Business Centre, Millennium Road, Skipton BD23 2TZ, tel 01756 792600, email enquiries@principlehealthcare.com
Press Contact David Gent Creative 01706 220388 david@davidgent.com