Dr Priti Nanda SibalFounder - Functional medicine clinic

Calcium deficiency is not the cause of osteoporosis

Name: Calcium deficiency is not the cause of osteoporosis
Uploaded: 2021-12-10T17:48:46+00:00
Duration: 4 min
Channel: Dr Priti Nanda Sibal
Description: In this health talk, Dr. Preeti Nanda Siddharth (Peak Wellness Expert) argues that osteoporosis is not simply a calcium deficiency and warns against…

10 Dec 2021 · 4 min

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In this health talk, Dr. Preeti Nanda Siddharth (Peak Wellness Expert) argues that osteoporosis is not simply a calcium deficiency and warns against routine calcium carbonate supplementation. She cites a 2018 review showing calcium with vitamin D does not lower fracture risk and may increase kidney‑stone formation, and she claims calcium supplements can raise heart‑attack risk by 30% and stroke risk by 20%. Dr. Siddharth recommends obtaining calcium from food sources such as ragi, dairy, sesame seeds, leafy greens, and fish, and emphasizes the importance of vitamin D, magnesium, and vitamin K2, along with regular exercise, for strong bones. She outlines the underlying causes of low bone mineral density—including steroid/cortisol use, low vitamin D, malabsorption, and hormonal imbalances (especially high estrogen in women)—and differentiates osteopenia, osteomalacia, and osteoporosis. The talk concludes with practical advice for maintaining bone health through nutrition, lifestyle, and hormone management.

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Osteoporosis is not a calcium deficiency. I am Dr. Preeti Nanda Siddharth, your Peak Wellness Expert. And today I want to bring forward this point that what I generally see with my clients and in my experiences that the moment, you know, you become osteopenic, there are a lot of people who do this test, bone mineral density test and all. And the moment you become osteopenic, people start taking calcium carbonate, 500 milligram a day. Do you know that that simple calcium carbonate which you are taking can result into increasing your risk of heart attack by 30% and risk of stroke by 20%. Taking calcium through food sources is the best option, and the good calcium sources are ragi, dairy products, sesame seeds, green leafy vegetables, and fish. What else you must know about this condition, osteoporosis, and calcium. In 2018, there was a review which showed that calcium with vitamin D did not reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures. In fact, it increased the risk of kidney stones. I know something is ticking, right? Do you have kidney stones? Check if you've ever taken calcium supplementation. Of course, exercise does help building your bone, so that's something I would strongly advocate, and it decreases your calcium, iron, copper, which you must always have in optimum quantities in your body. The another very, very important thing which is important for good bone health is good levels of magnesium, K2, which will help you in having good bone health. What are the causes actually which lead to osteomalacia, osteopenia, osteoporosis? Osteopenia is low bone mass. Osteomalacia is when you have soft bones like in rickets. Osteoporosis, of course, when your bone density decreases a lot and the shape of the bones also start changing and you get to have symptoms of osteoporosis. The causes which leads to low BMD are use of cortisol or steroids. High cortisol levels when you are in high stress or if you are using steroids, that can lead to bad bone health. Low vitamin D. Please, vitamin D is more critical than calcium when it comes to your bone health. Vitamin K2, as I just mentioned. Malabsorption— if you have any gut disorders, you will be having bad bone health because none of the minerals and proteins will get digested. And you need minerals, proteins, and vitamins, especially vitamin D, K2, in optimum percentages or values in your body to have good bones. Of course, last but not the least, in females High estrogen actually creates an imbalance and reduces the quality of your bone health. So managing your sexual hormones is also very, very critical to enjoy good bone health and nice aging. All the best.