Calcium for osteoarthritis?

[Sciameriken]

Originally Posted by suzy_q2010

The calcium level is closely regulated by the body. Osteoporosis can be severe, but the blood calcium level normal.

Thanks Suzy!

Here is some more food for thought on the subject:

The Effect of Vitamin D on Calcium A... [J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012] - PubMed - NCBI

This study suggest that as long as your vitamin D levels are > 10-15 ng/ml then calcium absorption should be adequate. I'll stop contributing now since the OP wants to discuss Calcium and not vitamin D.

[mvintar]

I should repost this in the vegan/vegetarian forum, as my actual inquiry was me attempting to understand the perspective of vegan books I'm reading, which perspectives are contrary to the generally recommended use of dairy and calcium supplements to treat osteoarthritis.

These books cite the fact that one would think, given the use of calcium supplements along with eating a lot of dairy products, that coutries that do these two things would have the least fractures. But they don't. They have the most fractures and countries such as India and those in Asia, where dairy is frequently not a part of the diet and calcium supplements are not commondly used, have the fewest fractures.

[AnonChick]

Originally Posted by mvintar

I should repost this in the vegan/vegetarian forum, as my actual inquiry was me attempting to understand the perspective of vegan books I'm reading, which perspectives are contrary to the generally recommended use of dairy and calcium supplements to treat osteoarthritis.

These books cite the fact that one would think, given the use of calcium supplements along with eating a lot of dairy products, that coutries that do these two things would have the least fractures. But they don't. They have the most fractures and countries such as India and those in Asia, where dairy is frequently not a part of the diet and calcium supplements are not commondly used, have the fewest fractures.

I don't know where you got the idea that dairy isn't a frequent part of the diet in India. Indian cuisine is pretty heavy on yogurt and cheese curds. Lassi is practically the official drink of Punjab (that's hyperbole but you get the idea). It's basically watered-down yogurt with salt and spices. You drink it. It's pretty disgusting unless you're raised drinking it, in which case it's supposedly delicious.

Khir and gulab jamun are common desserts that are typically served after dinner in India; both are made with dairy - and in fact, gulab jamuns are essentially powdered milk, moistened and pan fried, and served drowning in rose-infused simple syrup (sugar melted into boiling water).

Kumiss is a typical, commonly consumed central-asian dairy liquor.

Dairy is a pretty important staple in Indian and Asian culture and cuisine. If your vegan books are telling you otherwise, I'd question the ethics and political interests of the vegans who wrote them.