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

Research synthesisLow evidenceMixed effect size4 studies · 2 beneficial · 2 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 4 studies, 2 reported beneficial effects (small to moderate) and 2 reported neutral effects on total hip bone mineral density. The beneficial findings came from meta-analyses of combined interventions (exercise or collagen with calcium and vitamin D), not calcium supplementation alone. The most studied population was postmenopausal women, and median study duration was 336 days (48 weeks).

  • Studied populations: postmenopausal women (including those with osteopenia)

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 4 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Only half of the studies reached statistical significance, and the two neutral studies were of higher quality (meta-analysis and RCT). Beneficial effects were observed only in combination with other interventions (exercise or collagen), making it difficult to attribute the effect to calcium alone. Additionally, the outcome measure (total hip BMD) was not consistently assessed across studies; some evaluated femoral neck or total body BMD.

Generated Jul 13, 2026
Doses used in studies
  • mg/day: 1,000 (median 1,000, IQR 1,000–1,000) — 1 study
Time to effect
Median: 11.2 months · IQR 11.2 months–11.2 months · Range 11.2 months–11.2 months — Reported in 1 of 4 studies
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
4 of 4 papers
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