According to researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey, pre-menopausal women trying to lose weight should maintain normal calcium intakes to prevent bone loss and the risk of osteoporosis.
The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, followed 44 overweight pre-menopausal women on a calorie restricted diet. The women consumed normal calcium intakes during the study.
After a six month study period and average weight loss of 12 pounds (5.5 kg), researchers found that the women maintained the same bone mineral density levels observed at the start of the study, suggesting adequate calcium intakes can prevent bone loss during weight loss.
These findings are significant because numerous studies have shown that bone loss often occurs with weight reductions.
These findings are preliminary and further studies are needed to examine the full effect that weight loss has on bone density.
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