Plant based indigenous dietary calcium supplementation on bone turnover markers among peri and postmenopausal women: A randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Indigenous plant based dietary supplement that is accessible and safer may help to combat the more proclaimed calcium deficiency among Indian population and improve bone strength. Aim & Objective: To formulate an indigenous calcium rich food supplement and study its impact on markers of bone resorption and formation. Settings and Design: Sixty subjects (80% power, α = 0.05) including 30 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women each were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. Methods and Material: Experimental postmenopausal and perimenopausal women received 1200mg and 800mg per day of calcium respectively from a plant based supplement comprising Sesamum indicum, Eleusine coracana, Glycine max Vigna mungo and Sesbania grandiflora as a midmorning and evening snack. Measures like serum calcium, betacrosslaps (bone resorption marker), total P1NP (bone formation marker) were assessed at baseline, 3rd and 6th month. Results: Fifty-seven subjects were analysed with no adverse events were reported. Results showed that after supplementation betacrosslaps reduced from 0.32±0.130 ng/ml to 0.25±0.130 ng/ml and 1.11±0.290 ng/ml to 0.42±0.263 ng/ml in perimenopausal and postmenopausal subjects significant at (P=0.008) and (P=0.012) respectively. Conclusions: Adequate dietary calcium intake using locally available foods is recommended as a strategic option in reducing risk of osteoporosis.