[Calcium in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis]

Calcium intake improves the development of bone mass in adolescence and the preservation of bone mass in adulthood, slows down the postmenopausal bone loss and improves bone density also later on. These are recent data obtained from prospective studies. They justify dietary supervision of adolescents, of women during pregnancy, lactation, and after menopause, and of elderly persons of both sexes. They also justify the prescription of about 500 mg of calcium in the case of calcium-poor nutrition in these groups. Above all, they document the necessity of the simultaneous prescription of at least 500 mg of calcium in the treatment of osteoporosis with estrogens, fluor, calcitonin and bisphosphonates.