Abstract
Caffeine-containing beverage consumption has been reported to be associated with reduced bone mass and increased fracture risk in some, but not most, observational studies. Human physiological studies and controlled balance studies show a clear but only a very small depressant effect of caffeine itself on intestinal calcium absorption, and no effect on total 24-h urinary calcium excretion. The epidemiologic studies showing a negative effect may be explained in part by an inverse relationship between consumption of milk and caffeine-containing beverages. Low calcium intake is clearly linked to skeletal fragility, and it is likely that a high caffeine intake is often a marker for a low calcium intake. The negative effect of caffeine on calcium absorption is small enough to be fully offset by as little as 1-2 tablespoons of milk. All of the observations implicating caffeine-containing beverages as a risk factor for osteoporosis have been made in populations consuming substantially less than optimal calcium intakes. There is no evidence that caffeine has any harmful effect on bone status or on the calcium economy in individuals who ingest the currently recommended daily allowances of calcium.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1263-1270 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Food and Chemical Toxicology |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 2002 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Food Science
- Toxicology
Cite this
Effects of caffeine on bone and the calcium economy. / Heaney, R. P.
In: Food and Chemical Toxicology, Vol. 40, No. 9, 09.2002, p. 1263-1270.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of caffeine on bone and the calcium economy
AU - Heaney, R. P.
PY - 2002/9
Y1 - 2002/9
N2 - Caffeine-containing beverage consumption has been reported to be associated with reduced bone mass and increased fracture risk in some, but not most, observational studies. Human physiological studies and controlled balance studies show a clear but only a very small depressant effect of caffeine itself on intestinal calcium absorption, and no effect on total 24-h urinary calcium excretion. The epidemiologic studies showing a negative effect may be explained in part by an inverse relationship between consumption of milk and caffeine-containing beverages. Low calcium intake is clearly linked to skeletal fragility, and it is likely that a high caffeine intake is often a marker for a low calcium intake. The negative effect of caffeine on calcium absorption is small enough to be fully offset by as little as 1-2 tablespoons of milk. All of the observations implicating caffeine-containing beverages as a risk factor for osteoporosis have been made in populations consuming substantially less than optimal calcium intakes. There is no evidence that caffeine has any harmful effect on bone status or on the calcium economy in individuals who ingest the currently recommended daily allowances of calcium.
AB - Caffeine-containing beverage consumption has been reported to be associated with reduced bone mass and increased fracture risk in some, but not most, observational studies. Human physiological studies and controlled balance studies show a clear but only a very small depressant effect of caffeine itself on intestinal calcium absorption, and no effect on total 24-h urinary calcium excretion. The epidemiologic studies showing a negative effect may be explained in part by an inverse relationship between consumption of milk and caffeine-containing beverages. Low calcium intake is clearly linked to skeletal fragility, and it is likely that a high caffeine intake is often a marker for a low calcium intake. The negative effect of caffeine on calcium absorption is small enough to be fully offset by as little as 1-2 tablespoons of milk. All of the observations implicating caffeine-containing beverages as a risk factor for osteoporosis have been made in populations consuming substantially less than optimal calcium intakes. There is no evidence that caffeine has any harmful effect on bone status or on the calcium economy in individuals who ingest the currently recommended daily allowances of calcium.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0036710155&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0278-6915(02)00094-7
DO - 10.1016/S0278-6915(02)00094-7
M3 - Review article
VL - 40
SP - 1263
EP - 1270
JO - Food and Chemical Toxicology
JF - Food and Chemical Toxicology
SN - 0278-6915
IS - 9
ER -