Women's Health

Healthy Older Women Advised Against Taking Calcium

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Some expressed concern that the guidelines from the USPSTF are often slow to be implemented because doctors typically practice medicine the way they were trained, and are unlikely to respond quickly to new recommendations.

"I think the response will be very similar to the reaction physicians had to the mammogram guidelines [in 2009]," said Dr. Christine Gerbstadt, a registered dietitian and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "Most physicians are just sending their patients for annual mammograms despite the recommendations. Dietitians will get the word out, but where the lag is going to be is with physicians who will be a lot slower to stop [recommending] the calcium," she said.

Moyer, the task force chair, suggested that consumers review the guidelines and bring them along when they see their physician. "Just say, 'I've printed this out and let's talk about it.'" Depending on your particular situation, the best option may require a thorough discussion, she said.

Rather than being confused by the debate between constituencies and organizations about how to deal with preventing fractures, Moyer urged consumers to digest the key message: "Don't bother with inadequate supplemental doses and look for new research about how much vitamin D we really need."

More information

Learn more about preventing diseases and improving your health from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.