Supplementary Calcium, Not Dietary, Linked to Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are considered by many to be one of the most painful health conditions you may ever experience. New research finds that supplementing with calcium may lead to kidney stones, while dietary calcium does not. Conventional medical protocol for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis typically includes calcium supplementation, leading to an increased risk of kidney stones. In addition, studies have found that supplemental calcium is not effective in preventing fractures, while dietary calcium may be much more potent.

According to a study in the journal Maturitas:

These findings indicate that calcium supplementation probably does not have a role as a routine preventative agent and that dietary advice is the appropriate way to attain an adequate calcium intake in most situations. Patients at high risk of fracture need to take interventions of proven anti-fracture efficacy. Available evidence suggests that this efficacy is not dependent on the co-administration of calcium supplements.