Calcium-Rich Food Versus Calcium Carbonate for Bone Health

Overview

This study will compare adherence, tolerability, safety, and treatment satisfaction between a calcium-rich food and a traditional calcium carbonate supplement in women ages 40 to 90 who are at increased risk for osteoporosis. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either a calcium-rich food providing 500 mg of calcium from milk-derived minerals or a 500 mg calcium carbonate supplement once daily for four weeks. Participants will complete brief weekly questionnaires assessing supplement use, gastrointestinal symptoms, and treatment satisfaction. The goal of the study is to determine whether the form in which calcium is consumed influences adherence and participant experience. No blood draws, imaging studies, or other invasive procedures are involved

Calcium intake is an important component of bone health and osteoporosis prevention. Despite widespread recommendations for calcium supplementation, long-term adherence to traditional calcium supplements is often poor because of gastrointestinal side effects, difficulty swallowing tablets, and dissatisfaction with conventional formulations. This study is designed to compare adherence, tolerability, safety, and treatment satisfaction between a calcium-rich food and a traditional calcium carbonate supplement in women at increased risk for osteoporosis. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a calcium-rich food providing 500 mg of calcium from milk-derived minerals or a 500 mg calcium carbonate supplement once daily for four weeks. Randomization will be administered using REDCap with blocked randomization (block size of four) and age stratification to ensure balanced allocation across age groups. A seven-day washout period without calcium supplements will precede study initiation. Participants will complete a baseline questionnaire followed by weekly questionnaires throughout the four-week intervention period. The primary objective is to compare continuous adherence between study groups over the four-week intervention. Adherence will be calculated using measures of compliance and persistence derived from participants' weekly self-reported missed doses. The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale will also be collected as a secondary measure to support construct validity and comparison with prior osteoporosis research. Secondary outcomes include gastrointestinal tolerability, treatment satisfaction, and safety. Gastrointestinal symptoms will be assessed using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, treatment satisfaction will be assessed using selected domains of the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication, and the frequency of gastrointestinal symptoms, including bloating and constipation, will be compared between study groups. Eligible participants are women aged 40 to 90 years with either a family history of osteoporosis or a history of fracture who are willing to comply with study procedures and provide written informed consent. Individuals with medical conditions that would interfere with study participation, severe allergies to study ingredients, pregnancy, breastfeeding, dysphagia, or participation in another research study will be excluded. The primary analysis will compare continuous adherence between groups using an independent two-sample t-test with a pre-specified Mann-Whitney U sensitivity analysis. Secondary outcomes will be analyzed using appropriate parametric or nonparametric statistical methods, with statistical significance defined as a two-sided p-value of less than 0.05