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Evaluating adherence, tolerability and safety of oral calcium citrate in elderly osteopenic subjects: a real-life non-interventional, prospective, multicenter study.
Rondanelli, M, Minisola, S, Barale, M, Barbaro, D, Mansueto, F, Battaglia, S, Bonaccorsi, G, Caliri, S, Cavioni, A, Colangelo, L, et al
Aging clinical and experimental research. 2024;36(1):38
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The occurrence of fractures and osteoporosis are significant concerns in elderly adults, as ageing remains one of the primary risk factors for these conditions. While the incidence of fracture and risk may vary, the incidence of fragility fractures significantly increases with advancing age, particularly after the age of 50 years. This study's aim was to evaluate the adherence, tolerability, and safety of calcium citrate administration in an "outpatient" population in routine clinical practice. This study was a non-interventional, prospective, multicentre study. Two-hundred and sixty-eight individuals (comprised 245 females (91.4%) and 23 males (8.6%)) were enrolled. Results showed a high rate of adherence to calcium citrate supplementation over a one-year period in osteopenic elderly subjects. Additionally, the incidence of adverse reactions was low (3.9%), further emphasizing the tolerability of calcium citrate. Authors concluded that future studies designed to assess the long-term impact of calcium citrate supplementation on hard endpoints, such as bone density, fractures/falls, quality of life measures and adherence are needed.
Expert Review
Conflicts of interest:
None
Take Home Message:
- The occurrence of fractures and osteoporosis are significant concerns in older adults, as ageing remains one of the primary risk factors for this condition.
- Calcium supplementation, usually with vitamin D, is a recommended complement to other specific pharmacological treatments of osteoporosis.
- This non-interventional, prospective multicentre study suggests a 91% adherence to calcium citrate supplementation over one year in elderly osteopenic patients with generally good (80%) tolerability and 4% reporting gastrointestinal adverse effects.
Evidence Category:
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A: Meta-analyses, position-stands, randomized-controlled trials (RCTs)
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B: Systematic reviews including RCTs of limited number
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C: Non-randomized trials, observational studies, narrative reviews
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D: Case-reports, evidence-based clinical findings
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E: Opinion piece, other
Summary Review:
Introduction
A non-interventional, prospective multicentre study was conducted to evaluate the adherence, safety, and tolerability of calcium citrate supplementation in elderly osteopenic subjects.
Method:
A total of 231 Caucasian female (91%) and male (8%) participants with a median age of 70 received 500mg of calcium citrate supplementation daily for one year. Adherence was assessed based on tolerability, compliance, and persistence. Safety evaluations included monitoring of adverse reactions (ARs), physical examinations, and clinical laboratory evaluations.
Results
A total of 222 out of 231 participants (96%) completed the study. Nine subjects did not return for assessments or complete their diaries.
The primary and secondary findings of this study were as follows:
- An average adherence of 91% of oral calcium citrate supplementation was observed which was higher than the reported reference rate of 57% (p = 0.0179).
- Subjects with adherence <80% experienced a higher frequency of adverse events compared to those with adherence >80% (32/77; 42% vs 16/145%, (p = 0.0001).
- Gastrointestinal ARs were the most commonly reported, with constipation comprising 50% of all reported ARs.
- Reductions in systolic (130.7 ± 16.9 mmHg to 127.9 ± 14.5 mmHg) (p = 0.0102) and diastolic blood pressure 79.5 ± 8.7 mmHg to 77.4 ± 8.6 mmHg (baseline to V2) (p = 0.0116) were observed from baseline to the second visit.
- Positive changes were also noted in nutritional status (p = 0.0116), circulatory system disorders (p = 0.0001), and muscles/skeleton disorders (p = 0.0067) from baseline to post-baseline visit.
Conclusion:
This study revealed a 91% adherence to calcium citrate supplementation over one year in older adults with osteopenia, Additionally, the 4% incidents of ARs reported were related to gastrointestinal disorders.
Clinical practice applications:
- The prevalence of osteoporosis rises as individuals age, with approximately 10% of women at 60 years, 20% at 70 years, and 40% at 80 years.
- Calcium supplementation, usually with vitamin D, is a recommended complement to other specific pharmacological treatments of osteoporosis.
- The safety of calcium supplements remains controversial regarding an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the safety profile of calcium in these populations.
- This study reported adherence, tolerability, and safety of calcium citrate supplementation in osteopenic elderly patients with 4% of patients reporting gastrointestinal adverse effects.
Considerations for future research:
- This study was conducted on 91% Caucasian females and 8% males with a mean age of 70 years therefore, there is a need to include more male and Asian participants from various age groups in further research.
- Future studies are needed to assess the long-term impact of calcium citrate supplementation on bone density, fractures, and quality of life.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Osteoporosis is a common concern in the elderly that leads to fragile bones. Calcium supplementation plays a crucial role in improving bone health, reducing fracture risk, and supporting overall skeletal strength in this vulnerable population. However, there is conflicting evidence on the safety of calcium supplements in elderly individuals. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the adherence, safety and tolerability of calcium citrate supplementation in elderly osteopenic subjects. METHODS In this non-interventional, prospective, multicenter study, subjects received daily 500 mg calcium citrate supplementation for up to one year. Adherence was calculated based on compliance and persistence. Safety was assessed through adverse reactions (ARs), deaths, and clinical laboratory evaluations. RESULTS A total of 268 Caucasian subjects (91.4% female, mean age 70 ± 4.5 years) participated in the study. Mean adherence to treatment was 76.6 ± 29.5% and half of subjects had an adherence of 91% and ~ 33% of participants achieved complete (100%) adherence. ARs were reported by nine (3.9%) subjects, primarily gastrointestinal disorders, with no serious ARs. The frequency of all adverse events (including ARs) was significantly higher in subjects with adherence of < 80% (41.6%; 32/77) vs. those with adherence ≥ 80% (11%; 16/145, p < 0.0001). Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased from baseline to follow-up visit (change of -2.8 ± 13.9 mmHg, p = 0.0102 and -2.1 ± 10.4 mmHg, p = 0.0116, respectively). CONCLUSION This study demonstrated favorable adherence to calcium citrate supplementation in elderly osteopenic subjects. The occurrence of ARs, though generally mild, were associated with lower adherence to calcium supplementation.
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Inflammation and glucose homeostasis are associated with specific structural features among adults without knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study from the osteoarthritis initiative.
Stout, AC, Barbe, MF, Eaton, CB, Amin, M, Al-Eid, F, Price, LL, Lu, B, Lo, GH, Zhang, M, Pang, J, et al
BMC musculoskeletal disorders. 2018;19(1):1
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Individuals with osteoarthritis (OA) typically present with greater systemic inflammation and impaired glucose homeostasis. Currently it is unclear whether these factors are associated with early-stage OA, namely bone marrow lesions and swelling. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the role of inflammation and glucose homeostasis in early-stage OA. Using baseline data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, 343 participants were enrolled and tested for markers of inflammation and impaired glucose homeostasis. Bone marrow lesions and swelling were also assessed through imaging results. Results indicate that among individuals without OA, those with greater systemic inflammation were more likely to have bone marrow lesions and knee swelling. According to these results, the authors conclude that systemic inflammation and glucose homeostasis are related to structural features of osteoarthritis. Future studies should explore whether these factors are predictive of OA in order to identify therapeutic targets to prevent or delay the onset of knee OA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Greater age and body mass index are strong risk factors for osteoarthritis (OA). Older and overweight individuals may be more susceptible to OA because these factors alter tissue turnover in menisci, articular cartilage, and bone via altered glucose homeostasis and inflammation. Understanding the role of inflammation and glucose homeostasis on structural features of early-stage OA may help identify therapeutic targets to delay or prevent the onset of OA among subsets of adults with these features. We examined if serum concentrations of glucose homeostasis (glucose, glycated serum protein [GSP]) or inflammation (C-reactive protein [CRP]) were associated with prevalent knee bone marrow lesions (BMLs) or effusion among adults without knee OA. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study using baseline data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. We selected participants who had no radiographic knee OA but were at high risk for knee OA. Blinded staff conducted assays for CRP, GSP, and glucose. Readers segmented BML volume and effusion using semi-automated programs. Our outcomes were prevalent BML (knee with a BML volume > 1 cm3) and effusion (knee with an effusion volume > 7.5 cm3). We used logistic regression models with CRP, GSP, or glucose concentrations as the predictors. We adjusted for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) scores. RESULTS We included 343 participants: mean age = 59 ± 9 years, BMI = 27.9 ± 4.5 kg/m2, PASE score = 171 ± 82, and 64% female. Only CRP was associated with BML prevalence (odds ratio [OR] = 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09 to 1.87). For effusion, we found an interaction between BMI and CRP: only among adults with a BMI <25 kg/m2 was there a significant trend towards a positive association between CRP and effusion (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.00 to 1.97). We detected a U-shaped relationship between GSP and effusion prevalence. Fasting glucose levels were not significantly associated with the presence of baseline effusion or BML. CONCLUSIONS Among individuals without knee OA, CRP may be related to the presence of BMLs and effusion among normal weight individuals. Abnormal GSP may be associated with effusion. Future studies should explore whether inflammation and glucose homeostasis are predictive of symptomatic knee OA.
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Changes in Visceral Adiposity, Subcutaneous Adiposity, and Sex Hormones in the Diabetes Prevention Program.
Kim, C, Dabelea, D, Kalyani, RR, Christophi, CA, Bray, GA, Pi-Sunyer, X, Darwin, CH, Yalamanchi, S, Barrett-Connor, E, Golden, SH, et al
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. 2017;102(9):3381-3389
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It is not currently known to what extent changes in different types of fat stores (visceral fat that surrounds organs and subcutaneous fat that sits under the surface of the skin) relate to changes in sex hormones. This study was a secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial including 555 individuals. It examined whether changes to visceral and subcutaneous fat were associated with changes in sex hormones (DHEA, testosterone, oestrogen and sex hormone binding globulin - SHBG) among overweight individuals with glucose intolerance under the care of a diabetes program. Participants were randomly assigned to an intensive lifestyle modification programme (goals for weight reduction and 150 mins exercise weekly), medication (metformin) or placebo for 12 months. The authors found that among men, reductions in both types of fat were associated with significant increases in total testosterone and SHBG. Among women, reductions in both types of fat were associated with increases in SHBG and associations with estrone differed by menopausal status. No associations were found between changes in fat stores and estradiol or DHEA. The authors conclude that weight loss may affect sex hormone profiles via reductions in visceral and subcutaneous fat. -
Abstract
Context: The degree to which changes in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) relate to corresponding changes in plasma sex steroids is not known. Objective: We examined whether changes in VAT and SAT areas assessed by computed tomography were associated with changes in sex hormones [dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), testosterone, estradiol, estrone, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)] among Diabetes Prevention Program participants. Design: Secondary analysis of a randomized trial. Participants: Overweight and glucose-intolerant men (n = 246) and women (n = 309). Interventions: Intensive lifestyle change with goals of weight reduction and 150 min/wk of moderate intensity exercise or metformin administered 850 mg twice a day or placebo. Main Outcome Measures: Associations between changes in VAT, SAT, and sex hormone changes over 1 year. Results: Among men, reductions in VAT and SAT were both independently associated with significant increases in total testosterone and SHBG in fully adjusted models. Among women, reductions in VAT and SAT were both independently associated with increases in SHBG and associations with estrone differed by menopausal status. Associations were similar by race/ethnicity and by randomization arm. No significant associations were observed between change in fat depot with change in estradiol or DHEAS. Conclusions: Among overweight adults with impaired glucose intolerance, reductions in either VAT and SAT were associated with increased total testosterone in men and higher SHBG in men and women. Weight loss may affect sex hormone profiles via reductions in visceral and subcutaneous fat.
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Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity But Not Sedentary Time Is Associated With Musculoskeletal Health Outcomes in a Cohort of Australian Middle-Aged Women.
Wu, F, Wills, K, Laslett, LL, Oldenburg, B, Jones, G, Winzenberg, T
Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. 2017;32(4):708-715
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Bone mineral density (BMD), muscle strength, and balance are all important aspects of musculoskeletal health. The aim of the study was to describe associations between objectively‐measured physical activity and sedentary time and musculoskeletal health outcomes in middle‐aged women. The study is a cross-sectional analysis of data from a population-based sample of 309 women with an age range between 36 and 57 years. Results indicate that in middle‐aged women, greater total physical activity was associated with better musculoskeletal health. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity appears more important than light physical activity or sedentary time for many musculoskeletal outcomes in middle‐aged women. Authors conclude that their findings are important for developing interventions to improve habitual physical activity that are targeted at improving musculoskeletal health amongst women in midlife when an accelerated process of decline in BMD, muscle strength, and balance begins.
Abstract
Associations between physical activity and time spent sedentary and musculoskeletal outcomes remain unclear in middle-aged adults. This study aimed to describe associations between objectively-measured physical activity and sedentary time and musculoskeletal health outcomes in middle-aged women. This cross-sectional study from a population-based sample of 309 women (age 36 to 57 years) examined associations of total physical activity (accelerometer counts/min of wear time), and time spent sedentary, in light physical activities and moderate-to-vigorous physical activities (MVPA) (by Actigraph GT1M accelerometer) with lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) bone mineral density (BMD) (by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), lower limb muscle strength (LMS), and functional mobility and balance tests (timed up and go test [TUG], functional reach test [FRT], lateral reach test [LRT], and step test [ST]) using linear regression. Total physical activity was beneficially associated with FN BMD (values are β; 95% CI) (0.011 g/cm2 ; 95% CI, 0.003 to 0.019 g/cm2 ), LMS (2.13 kg; 95% CI, 0.21 to 4.06 kg), and TUG (-0.080 s; 95% CI, -0.129 to -0.030 s), after adjustment for confounders. MVPA was also beneficially associated with FN BMD (0.0050 g/cm2 ; 95% CI, 0.0007 to 0.0094 g/cm2 ), LMS (1.48 kg; 95% CI, 0.45 to 2.52 kg), ST (0.12 steps; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.23 steps), and TUG (-0.043 s; 95% CI, -0.070 to -0.016 s). Associations between MVPA and LMS, TUG and ST persisted after further adjustment for sedentary time. Only TUG was associated with sedentary time, with a detrimental effect (0.075 s; 95% CI, 0.013 to 0.137 s) and this did not persist after further adjustment for MVPA. Light physical activity was not associated with any outcome. MVPA appears more important than light physical activity or sedentary time for many musculoskeletal outcomes in middle-aged women. This needs to be considered when developing interventions to improve habitual physical activity that aim to improve musculoskeletal health. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
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Effect of Two-Year Caloric Restriction on Bone Metabolism and Bone Mineral Density in Non-Obese Younger Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Villareal, DT, Fontana, L, Das, SK, Redman, L, Smith, SR, Saltzman, E, Bales, C, Rochon, J, Pieper, C, Huang, M, et al
Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. 2016;31(1):40-51
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While there is increasing evidence that caloric restriction (CR) can extend a healthy lifespan in humans, it is not known whether weight loss is linked to reductions in bone mineral density (BMD) in younger adults. The aim of this trial was to assess the effect of prolonged caloric restriction on bone mass density and bone metabolism in 218 healthy adults aged 21 to 40. Participants were randomised to either a 25% caloric restriction or ad libitum diet for two years. The findings of this study showed that the CR group had a larger increase in markers of bone turnover and caused a modest but significant decline in bone mineral density. Based on these findings, the authors suggest that further research is needed to determine whether bone loss increases fracture risk, and whether interventions can prevent bone loss that occurs with CR-induced weight loss.
Abstract
Although caloric restriction (CR) could delay biologic aging in humans, it is unclear if this would occur at the cost of significant bone loss. We evaluated the effect of prolonged CR on bone metabolism and bone mineral density (BMD) in healthy younger adults. Two-hundred eighteen non-obese (body mass index [BMI] 25.1 ± 1.7 kg/m(2) ), younger (age 37.9 ± 7.2 years) adults were randomly assigned to 25% CR (CR group, n = 143) or ad libitum (AL group, n = 75) for 2 years. Main outcomes were BMD and markers of bone turnover. Other outcomes included body composition, bone-active hormones, nutrient intake, and physical activity. Body weight (-7.5 ± 0.4 versus 0.1 ± 0.5 kg), fat mass (-5.3 ± 0.3 versus 0.4 ± 0.4 kg), and fat-free mass (-2.2 ± 0.2 versus -0.2 ± 0.2 kg) decreased in the CR group compared with AL (all between group p < 0.001). Compared with AL, the CR group had greater changes in BMD at 24 months: lumbar spine (-0.013 ± 0.003 versus 0.007 ± 0.004 g/cm(2) ; p < 0.001), total hip (-0.017 ± 0.002 versus 0.001 ± 0.003 g/cm(2) ; p < 0.001), and femoral neck (-0.015 ± 0.003 versus -0.005 ± 0.004 g/cm(2) ; p = 0.03). Changes in bone markers were greater at 12 months for C-telopeptide (0.098 ± 0.012 versus 0.025 ± 0.015 μg/L; p < 0.001), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (0.4 ± 0.1 versus 0.2 ± 0.1 U/L; p = 0.004), and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) (-1.4 ± 0.4 versus -0.3 ± 0.5 U/L; p = 0.047) but not procollagen type 1 N-propeptide; at 24 months, only BSAP differed between groups (-1.5 ± 0.4 versus 0.9 ± 0.6 U/L; p = 0.001). The CR group had larger increases in 25-hydroxyvitamin D, cortisol, and adiponectin and decreases in leptin and insulin compared with AL. However, parathyroid hormone and IGF-1 levels did not differ between groups. The CR group also had lower levels of physical activity. Multiple regression analyses revealed that body composition, hormones, nutrients, and physical activity changes explained ∼31% of the variance in BMD and bone marker changes in the CR group. Therefore, bone loss at clinically important sites of osteoporotic fractures represents a potential limitation of prolonged CR for extending life span. Further long-term studies are needed to determine if CR-induced bone loss in healthy adults contributes to fracture risk and if bone loss can be prevented with exercise.
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Improvement of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease With Carnitine-Orotate Complex in Type 2 Diabetes (CORONA): A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Bae, JC, Lee, WY, Yoon, KH, Park, JY, Son, HS, Han, KA, Lee, KW, Woo, JT, Ju, YC, Lee, WJ, et al
Diabetes care. 2015;38(7):1245-52
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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is recognized as the hepatic component of metabolic syndrome, and it is associated with insulin resistance independent of obesity and other metabolic components. Carnitine is a modulator of mitochondrial free fatty acid transport and oxidation, and several studies have demonstrated the antioxidant activity of carnitine in hepatocytes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of carnitine-orotate complex in patients with NAFLD and diabetes. This study is a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients were randomly assigned to receive carnitine-orotate complex or placebo during the 12-week treatment period. Results show that treatment with carnitine-orotate complex improves hepatic steatosis in patients with diabetes and NAFLD, and has a beneficial effect on glucose metabolism, particularly in relation to improvement of hepatic steatosis. Authors conclude that further studies using more advanced magnetic resonance imaging and liver histology as an end point are needed to assess its efficacy in NAFLD.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to evaluate the effects of carnitine-orotate complex in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Eight hospitals in Korea participated in this randomized, controlled, double-blind trial of patients with diabetes and NAFLD. Seventy-eight patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive carnitine-orotate complex (824 mg, three times daily) or matching placebo. The primary study outcome was decline in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) to the normal range. Secondary study outcomes were change in ALT, radiological hepatic steatosis, parameters for anthropometry, liver function, lipid profiles, and glycemic control. Hepatic steatosis was assessed using Hounsfield units on noncontrast computed tomography (CT) imaging with hepatic attenuation. RESULTS After 12 weeks of treatment, compared with placebo group, carnitine-orotate complex-treated participants had a significantly higher rate of normalization of serum ALT level (17.9% vs. 89.7%, P < 0.001). On hepatic CT analysis, participants treated with carnitine-orotate complex showed an increased liver attenuation index (0.74 ± 8.05 vs. 6.21 ± 8.96, P < 0.008). A significant decrease in HbA1c was observed in the carnitine-orotate complex group (-0.33 ± 0.82% [-3.6 ± 9.0 mmol/mol], P = 0.007), but no significant change was seen in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with carnitine-orotate complex improves serum ALT and may improve hepatic steatosis as assessed by CT in patients with diabetes and NAFLD. Further studies using more advanced magnetic resonance imaging and liver histology as an end point are needed to assess its efficacy in NAFLD.