calcium intake

[SimMartin]

so now I have osteoporosis after RT and 18 months of zoladex for localised high risk G9.

I didn’t start bisphosphonate until 4-5 months into hormone therapy- me but being on the ball and medics not mentioning it - odd as already had polio after effects so I was likely already low BMD. Anyway….

I am trying to maximise my calcium intake but due to plant based diet and need to keep to 1400 calories a day getting 1200mg of calcium by diet along is hard! So looking at algae based supplement of around 450mg in two capsules morn and night. Already takes D3 and K2.

But as I get around ,800-900 average a day will I overdose - is this a risk ? Is calcium a risk for recurrence of my high risk anyway ?

I’m confused … so many variable opinion and being exact about what’s good or bad for recurrence! I could gobble tons of cheese but that high animal Saturday so not good !

samecwith milk.

HELP - any views / knowledge/ experience- I about to go to bisphosphonate infusion but keen to bolster correct calcium if not a risk !

[cpcohen]

My first thought was "Add full-fat cheese to diet", but you're right, that has trade-offs because of the milk-fat content.

My second thought was:

. . . "Why not take mineral calcium tablets?"

They're cheap, and I don't know if there's good evidence (or any evidence) that they're less effective than fancier ways of getting calcium. So I started Googling, and ended up here:

ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/C...

Based on that (which I believe to be accurate), you could be eating low-fat milk products, or calcium-fortified soy products, and get as much calcium as your body can absorb. With fortified soy products, you wouldn't compromise the "plant-based" diet you want to stay on.

. Charles (an ovo-lacto-vegetarian for the past 40 years or so)

[SimMartin in reply to cpcohen]

yes, Charles I think you’re right I do drink soya milk unsweetened with calcium- maybe just drink a glass or two more!

The whole issue of calcium and supplements with PCa is sadly under researched obviously as no big ££ in it for drug companies.

[Mascouche in reply to SimMartin]

If consuming calcium by itself made the bones stronger, the number of women who have osteoporosis would have gone down after calcium was added to milk and that did not happen as far as I know. Taking more calcium will sometimes lead to it staying in your blood and increase the chances of a heart issue.

To push the calcium towards the bones, it needs other nutriments such as vitamin D3, vitamin K2 in MK7 form, magnesium and exercise.

When I was put on ADT initially, I was prescribed calcium with vitamin D by my oncologist. It simply gave me kidney stones. Now that I know better, I get my calcium from eating a few slices of cheese every day and I take the vitamins and minerals from my paragraph above. I have no lost my bone density and I've stopped making kidney stones.

[SimMartin in reply to Mascouche]

yes, I kind of agree - I have always taken vit D and K2 MK7 for many years pre dating prostate cancer.

I however due to polio as a kid and therefore didn’t play sports and was low muscle mass had mild osteopenia when I started ADT (found only because I demanded a DEXA myelf !)

I went on oral bisphosphonates but only 4-5 months into ADT so 15 months later repeat DEXS showed 6% BMD loss despite the bisphosphonates.

I was therefore trying to check my calcium intake and A) maybe a little low and B) maybe the bisphosphonate ARE working it’s just the bone loss was the first few unprotected months of ADT?! Or C) I should add a small amount of magnesium?

It all left to us to sort out with no real reliable research. Trouble is I can’t exercise and am only light weight and use wheelchair a lot so I need to rely on other tactics such as diet etc. slightly frustrating all that is said about combating ADT side effects is weights and exercise!

Maybe I should take a leaf from you as I adore cheese but cut back as it’s animal saturated fat - but maybe cheese is the way !

[Mascouche in reply to SimMartin]

Hi SimMartin,

I am sorry but I am not sure what to suggest to someone in your condition. If you could not exercise much I would suggest to try to do brisk walks at a pace as fast and safe and you can manage but since you are in a wheelchair , I really do not not know. I am sorry for you as my life on ADT would be even more hellish if I could not exercise to fight off some of its side-effects. At one point I had to skip training for almost a month because of a shoulder injury and I felt so weak and tired during that time.

Hopefully one of the geniuses on this site might have more suitable info for you. Best of luck and best wishes!

[SimMartin in reply to Mascouche]

Thanks - it’s always been a conundrum that most SOC put front and vente exercise even before with other relatively run of the mill conditions throughout my life. I try to tell medic etc I’m after optimisation with what I have not equivalence to non disabled patients - so think outside the box - sadly with most medics and physios aren’t great at that.