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Evidence-Based Supplement Research
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Calcium and Increased Total Hip Bone Mineral Density

Research synthesisLow evidenceSmall effect3 studies · 2 beneficial · 1 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 3 studies, 2 reported beneficial effects on total hip bone mineral density, with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate. However, the highest-quality evidence (a meta-analysis in pregnant women) found a neutral effect with high-dose calcium (≥1000 mg/day). The beneficial findings came from meta-analyses in postmenopausal women and combined interventions with collagen, suggesting the effect may be context-dependent.

  • Studied populations: postmenopausal women

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. The only study with a high evidence score (7) was neutral, while the two beneficial studies had lower quality scores (5 and 1). The beneficial effects were observed in combination with exercise or collagen, not with calcium alone, making it unclear whether calcium independently contributes to the benefit.

Generated Jun 11, 2026
Doses used in studies
  • mg/day: 1,000 (median 1,000, IQR 1,000–1,000) — 1 study
Safety in these studies
  • gall stonesNo significant difference

    There was no evidence that calcium supplementation had any effect on maternal weight gain during pregnancy; increasing bone mineral density in pregnant women; rate of intrauterine growth restriction; perinatal mortality; stillbirth or fetal death rate; increase birth length or fetal head circumference; and adverse effects such as postpartum haemorrhage, gall stones, gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, urinary stones, urinary tract infection or impaired renal function.

    from: Calcium supplementation (other than for preventing or treating hypertension) for improving
  • gastrointestinal symptomsNo significant difference

    There was no evidence that calcium supplementation had any effect on maternal weight gain during pregnancy; increasing bone mineral density in pregnant women; rate of intrauterine growth restriction; perinatal mortality; stillbirth or fetal death rate; increase birth length or fetal head circumference; and adverse effects such as postpartum haemorrhage, gall stones, gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, urinary stones, urinary tract infection or impaired renal function.

    from: Calcium supplementation (other than for preventing or treating hypertension) for improving
  • headacheNo significant difference

    There was no evidence that calcium supplementation had any effect on maternal weight gain during pregnancy; increasing bone mineral density in pregnant women; rate of intrauterine growth restriction; perinatal mortality; stillbirth or fetal death rate; increase birth length or fetal head circumference; and adverse effects such as postpartum haemorrhage, gall stones, gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, urinary stones, urinary tract infection or impaired renal function.

    from: Calcium supplementation (other than for preventing or treating hypertension) for improving
  • impaired renal functionNo significant difference

    There was no evidence that calcium supplementation had any effect on maternal weight gain during pregnancy; increasing bone mineral density in pregnant women; rate of intrauterine growth restriction; perinatal mortality; stillbirth or fetal death rate; increase birth length or fetal head circumference; and adverse effects such as postpartum haemorrhage, gall stones, gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, urinary stones, urinary tract infection or impaired renal function.

    from: Calcium supplementation (other than for preventing or treating hypertension) for improving
  • low birthweightNo significant differenceaverage RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.07

    and may have little or no effect on low birthweight (less than 2500 g) (average RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.07; 6 trials, 14,162 women; low-certainty evidence)

    from: Calcium supplementation (other than for preventing or treating hypertension) for improving
  • postpartum haemorrhageNo significant difference

    There was no evidence that calcium supplementation had any effect on ... adverse effects such as postpartum haemorrhage, gall stones, gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, urinary stones, urinary tract infection or impaired renal function.

    from: Calcium supplementation (other than for preventing or treating hypertension) for improving
  • postpartum hemorrhageNo significant difference

    There was no evidence that calcium supplementation had any effect on maternal weight gain during pregnancy; increasing bone mineral density in pregnant women; rate of intrauterine growth restriction; perinatal mortality; stillbirth or fetal death rate; increase birth length or fetal head circumference; and adverse effects such as postpartum haemorrhage, gall stones, gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, urinary stones, urinary tract infection or impaired renal function.

    from: Calcium supplementation (other than for preventing or treating hypertension) for improving
  • preterm birth less than 34 weeksNo significant differenceaverage RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.35

    but probably has little effect on the risk of preterm birth less than 34 weeks (average RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.35; 3 trials, 5569 women; moderate-certainty evidence)

    from: Calcium supplementation (other than for preventing or treating hypertension) for improving
  • preterm birth less than 37 weeksNo significant differenceaverage RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.99

    Calcium supplementation probably slightly reduces the risk of preterm birth less than 37 weeks (average risk ratio (RR) 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65 to 0.99; 11 trials, 15,379 women; moderate-certainty evidence)

    from: Calcium supplementation (other than for preventing or treating hypertension) for improving
  • urinary stonesNo significant difference

    There was no evidence that calcium supplementation had any effect on maternal weight gain during pregnancy; increasing bone mineral density in pregnant women; rate of intrauterine growth restriction; perinatal mortality; stillbirth or fetal death rate; increase birth length or fetal head circumference; and adverse effects such as postpartum haemorrhage, gall stones, gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, urinary stones, urinary tract infection or impaired renal function.

    from: Calcium supplementation (other than for preventing or treating hypertension) for improving
  • urinary tract infectionNo significant difference

    There was no evidence that calcium supplementation had any effect on maternal weight gain during pregnancy; increasing bone mineral density in pregnant women; rate of intrauterine growth restriction; perinatal mortality; stillbirth or fetal death rate; increase birth length or fetal head circumference; and adverse effects such as postpartum haemorrhage, gall stones, gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, urinary stones, urinary tract infection or impaired renal function.

    from: Calcium supplementation (other than for preventing or treating hypertension) for improving
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