Since osteoporosis (most notably brought on by insufficient calcium intake) is one of the biggest health concerns for women, taking a calcium supplement may seem like a magic bullet. But although calcium is an important nutrient, too much can have negative health consequences.
Many American women don’t get enough calcium: Less than 38 percent take in 1,000 milligrams per day (mg/d), which the recommended dietary allowance for women 19 to 50 years old. And 30 percent of postmenopausal Caucasian women have osteoporosis, while 54 percent have osteopenia (weak bones but not to the level of osteoporosis).
