Long Term Effects of Calcium on Bone Mass in Young Females

This study evaluates the effect of calcium on bone mass accretion over 7 years in a cohort of 354 young females who were in pubertal Stage II at the start of the study. The average age of study participants at entry was 11 years; at the end of the study participants were 18 years old. The study looks at skeletal development under the influence of heredity, nutrition (calcium), and physical exercise. We gave calcium to participants in one arm of this clinical trial calcium. Participants in the other arm of the trial were given a placebo. The main outcome variable is the bone mass measured at different skeletal regions. The study will also provide data about the efficacy of calcium supplementation with regard to hypertension prevention and obesity. The results of this research will be important in preventing osteoporosis.