Acute C-Terminal Crosslinking Telopeptide of Type I Collagen (CTX-1) Suppression with Milk Calcium or Calcium Carbonate Is Independent of Visceral Fat in a Randomized Crossover Study in Lean and Overweight Postmenopausal Women.

Background: Postmenopausal women with higher visceral adipose tissue (VAT) present with suppressed bone resorption (lower C-terminal crosslinking telopeptide of type I collagen; CTX-1) and turnover (lower osteocalcin) but whether this blunts the effect of calcium is unknown.

Objectives: The primary outcome of this study was the effect of VAT on changes in CTX-1 after intake of 2 forms of calcium. Secondary outcomes included changes in parathyroid hormone (PTH), serum calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).

Methods: Randomized open three period crossover trial conducted between 2017 and 2019 at the University of South Australia among 77 lean and overweight postmenopausal women (53-79 y) with BMI <25 kg/m2 and >27 kg/m2, respectively. Participants received a single dose of milk (1000 mg calcium), calcium carbonate tablet (1000 mg calcium), and fruit juice (no calcium) in random order with a 7-d washout period. Blood samples were collected at baseline and hourly for 5 h. Data was analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA of log-transformed data.

Results: At baseline, women with higher VAT had significantly lower CTX-1 and higher PTH (44% lower and 30% higher, respectively, between Q4 and Q1, P < 0.0001). VAT had no influence on the acute changes in CTX-1 or PTH with calcium or juice. A suppression of 44% in CTX-1 was seen with calcium carbonate and milk and a suppression of 18% with juice. PTH was suppressed more with calcium carbonate (47%) compared to milk (22%). Milk calcium reduced PTH and CTX-1 at 2 h, whereas calcium carbonate reduced PTH in 1 h. The suppression in CTX-1 was slower with lowest concentrations at 4-5 h.

Conclusions: Intake of 1000 mg calcium from milk or from calcium carbonate is effective in acutely suppressing bone resorption in postmenopausal women irrespective of visceral fat. This trial is registered at http://www.ANZCTR.org.au/ACTRN12617000779370.aspx as ACTRN 12617000779370).