Is calcium supplement necessary if one takes Denusomab ?

[Tinkudi]

Dad has normal calcium levels in his blood tests.

He has taken one dose of Denusomab 60 mg and has to take it every six months.

He also had osteoporosis in some parts.

The doctors write 1000 mg calcium to take daily but is that necessary if one has normal serum levels ?

[Derf4223]

My US MedOnc flat out said that she would not give me any more denosumab if I didn't take 1200 mg/day in supplement form. My blood calcium was in range but denosumab is said to tax it. With that said, it is not 100% safe to take supplemental calcium alone, so also take Magnesium citrate, and vitamins D3 and K2.

[RyderLake2]

Hello,

I agree with the comments made by Derf4223. Denosumab (the brand name is Xgeva and in lower doses Prolia) can cause your levels of calcium to drop below normal, so Calcium and Vitamin D supplements need to be taken to maintain optimal levels. I was prescribed Prolia (denosumab) to prevent any SRE (skeletal related event) over ten years ago. I had widespread bone metastases at the time. So twice a day (with breakfast and before going to bed), I take a Calcium/ Magnesium tablet as well as a Vitamin D3 tablet. Each Calcium tablet contains 333 mg of calcium and 167 mg of magnesium. Each Vitamin D3 tablet contains 1,000 IU of cholocalciferol. Hope that helps.

[dhccpa in reply to RyderLake2]

Yes, but shouldn't one at least wait until calcium levels actually dropped before supplementing? Even on denosumab? I'm in the same boat, but so far calcium levels are still normal 4.5 years into denosumab.

[garyjp9 in reply to RyderLake2]

What brand is the Ca/Mag combination?

[RyderLake2 in reply to garyjp9]

Hello,

I use the Jamieson brand. Might not be available in the United States as I live in Canada.

[garyjp9 in reply to RyderLake2]

Thanks

[Tall_Allen]

It is not necessary if serum levels are normal. Calcium is toxic to the heart and kidneys, so it should not be supplemented if not needed. The recommended daily dietary intake is no more than 1200 mg, and the best dietary source is bony fish (sardines, herring, anchovies, canned salmon).

Supplementing calcium has also been found to be associated with worsening prostate cancer:

" Our findings suggest that calcium intakes exceeding 1,500 mg/d may be associated with a decrease in differentiation in prostate cancer and ultimately with a higher risk of advanced and fatal prostate cancer but not with well-differentiated, organ-confined cancers."

aacrjournals.org/cebp/artic...

"we observed a threshold for calcium intake (604 mg/day) below which prostate cancer risk declined sharply."

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

[Tinkudi in reply to Tall_Allen]

thank you very much Allen. Won’t give dad supplemental calcium since his serum levels are normal but rhe doctors just precise 1000 mg calcium tablets !

[j-o-h-n]

An East Indian adding salt to anything is like a cry out warning at dynamite explosions (FIRE IN THE HOLE!!!).

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

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

Did not understand that 😊