Calcium supplements needed?

[Runner4000]

I have metastatic PC and am on intermittent ADT. Do I need to be taking calcium supplements or is a good diet (e.g. two milks and 1 serving of cottage cheese/day sufficient? If a supplement, what strength?

[Kaliber]

Your ( monthly ? ) serum calcium blood test should provide you with needed information and you are probably on a bone treatment such as Zometa to repair the adt / cancer bone loss.

First and foremost, you’d want to have a conversation with your medical team about calcium... and then the guys here can - will probably add much additional valuable information. As you realize, for us PCa - adt guys , calcium is an important consideration.

Lotsa good diet / supplement help here as well ...

Be safe 🦠 brother and have a cheery day 🌻🌼🌸🦋

[Magnus1964]

Being on ADT drugs for many years causes osteoporosis. At some point you may have to go on xgeva and take a calcium supplement. I suppose you could get a jump on it and take a calcium supplement now.

[pjoshea13]

It looks as though you get plenty of calcium. I don't think that you should supplement. High levels inhibit vitamin D.

With ADT bone loss is not due to lack of calcium if you did not have bone loss before starting ADT. When testosterone falls to almost nothing, estradiol [E2] often does too. If your E2 is < 12 pg/mL you should consider a low-dose E2 patch.

Also, vitamin K is required for calcium transport to bone. Vitamin K2 (K2-7) is best & it has anti-PCa properties.

& make sure that you are not vitamin D deficient.

-Patrick

[noahware]

Let me preface this comment by saying it is OPINION, not advice. Personally, I would not supplement, and additionally I would look for non-dairy sources of calcium in my diet (greens, beans, nuts, seeds, bone-in canned salmon/sardines, etc.).

I am trying to REDUCE dairy, as its my personal belief that milk's growth-stimulative nature may serve to activate metabolic pathways that help grow my PC.

Further, some studies show that pursuit of higher calcium intake may be insufficient to fight osteoporosis and loss of bone density associated with ADT. If it were me, on ADT, I would look to some form of transdermal estrogen (rather than to calcium intake) as my best bet to fight bone loss.

[Tall_Allen]

Do not take calcium supplements (or any other supplement) unless your blood levels are low. Supplemental calcium intake adversely affects prostate cancer and the cardiovascular system. The best source of dietary calcium are fish with edible bones, like sardines, herring, anchovies or canned salmon.

cebp.aacrjournals.org/conte...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[StayingOptimistic in reply to Tall_Allen]

I TOTALLY agree with you, TA. the coronary calcium score is very good indicator of the calcium deposits on arteries in my opnion. I thought about taking calcium supplements for a long time but was afraid to do so.

[Runner4000]

Thanks everyone. Very helpful, as usual.

[LearnAll]

I would say avoid calcium supplement as too much calcium intake from synthetic sources deposits in arteries and not in bones.

The best and most effective source of calcium is milk, yogurt and milk products. Just keep the calories low with dairy items.

Forkeeping bones strong , a lot of vegetables (provides K2) and fruits are also needed along with weight bearing excercises.

[Hidden in reply to LearnAll]

I love chard .

[monte1111 in reply to Hidden]

So does Bugs Bunny.

[j-o-h-n]

Don't forget the feta......Spinach pie....(Spanakopita OPA!)

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 04/17/2020 7:35 PM DST

[Hidden in reply to j-o-h-n]

Opa! Now you’re talkin. We will be breaking some plates when this is all over . Ouzo for everybody .

[Hidden]

My nat dr the was reluctant to start me on calcium . So he didn’t until I got osteopenia. Still he limits me to 700 mgs calcium per day . Now I’m on prolia too . If I had it to do over again I think I’d start the bone nutrients upon dx knowing what I know now. Osteo sucks .

[Runner4000]

Thanks for the additional input!

[binati]

I agree with one of the earlier comments that it is better to have sufficient calcium in your normal diet through whole wheat and vegetables. There is evidence that milk and milk products are not good for health including PCa. Also, if you have sufficient calcium in your diet you need not take any supplement. You do need to make sure your Vitamin D is okay through appropriate blood test. The other thing that helps is exercise , walking, jogging etc and I cannot stress that enough.

[EdBar]

Have you had a bone density test? It will let you know what shape your bones are in regarding osteoporosis.

Avoid supplements and stick to dietary sources of calcium. Too much calcium from supplements can lead to unintended consequences.

Ed

[Break60]

While on ADT I get annual bone density scans, take xgeva and get calcium level tested periodically. Also do weight bearing exercise.

[Runner4000]

Thanks everyone. My bone density test is not up to date. My health care location prioritized virus issues. Will follow up.

[Runner4000]

Very helpful and informative responses....

[Don_1213]

I'd suggest watching: grandroundsinurology.com/sa... - it's short (about 15 minutes) and he discusses calcium, and how too much can be injurious and have exactly the opposite effect to that desired. It also covers how everyone on Lupron is prone to a fat belly and weak muscles - and how usually by the time the patient realizes it - it's too late to do much about it.

Quick, entertaining and informative. Click on through..

[Largebill]

Interesting reading the responses opposed to calcium supplements. When my PSA returned after prostatectomy followed by radiation, my urologist suggested 1200 mg of calcium daily in anticipation of doing some form of ADT when PSA goes above 2.0.