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Calcium Requirements for Menopause

According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, menopause increases the loss of bone due to the significant estrogen decrease. Adequate calcium consumption for menopausal women may help keep some bone loss at bay.

  1. Function

    • A human skeleton.

      With approximately 99 percent of the body's calcium stored in bones, calcium helps maintain the structure of bones. Without it, bones are weak and at risk for fractures.

    Significance

    • During menopause, the body loses much calcium from the bones, which results in an overall loss of bone mass. Decreasing the rate of this loss is important for healthy bones beyond menopause.

    Recommendations

    • The Office of Dietary Supplements recommends that women between the ages of 19 to 50 years have 1,000 mg of calcium daily. Women over the age of 50 require 1,200 mg daily.

    Considerations

    • Getting adequate calcium during menopause is important for bone health. However, during the first years of menopause, the 3 to 5 percent loss of bone mass each year cannot be completely offset.

    Estrogen

    • Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may lead "to lower rates of bone loss," according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Though beneficial for bone health, HRT may cause more harm than good overall.

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