The Auckland calcium study: 5-year post-trial follow-up

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This investigation is a continuation of the 5 year Auckland calcium study, which randomly allocated healthy, post-menopausal women into a calcium or placebo group to compare fracture incidence, bone mineral density (BMD), and cardiovascular end-points between groups. The purpose of this extended follow-up was to investigate the post-trial effects of calcium after supplement discontinuation. Results indicated that the effects of calcium on cardiovascular safety and bone mineral density did not persist once treatment was stopped. Calcium may have a positive effect on the incidence of forearm and vertebral fractures, however additional trials are needed to confirm these results.