Intestinal Calcium Absorption Efficiency in Women and the Influence of Menopause

Chapter
First Online:
Part of the Nutrition and Health book series (NH)

Key Points

  • Intestinal calcium absorption efficiency is the percentage of a given amount of consumed calcium that is absorbed.

  • Estrogen deficiency secondary to menopause is associated with decreased intestinal calcium absorption efficiency.

  • One possible mechanism by which menopause causes decreased calcium absorption is that estrogen deficiency leads to a down-regulation of key calcium transport molecules within intestinal cells.

  • A second possible mechanism by which menopause causes decreased calcium absorption is that estrogen deficiency leads to decreased synthesis of calcitriol.

  • A third possible mechanism by which menopause causes decreased calcium absorption is that estrogen deficiency leads to intestinal resistance to calcitriol.

  • Efforts to elucidate the effect of menopause on serum calcitriol, calcium, and parathyroid hormone have been inconclusive.

  • Decreased calcium absorption following menopause is associated with a negative change in calcium balance, decreased bone mineral density, and increased fracture risk.

  • Optimization of calcium intake following menopause is important for maintaining skeletal health.

Keywords

Calcium absorption Estrogen Calcitriol Estrogen deficiency Efficiency 

Abbreviations

TRPV6

Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 6

VDR

Vitamin D receptor

ERα

Estrogen receptor alpha

KO

Knockout

FSH

Follicular stimulating hormone

mRNA

Messenger ribonucleic acid

PTH

Parathyroid hormone

EAR

Estimated average requirement

RDA

Recommended daily allowance

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© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Winthrop University HospitalMineolaUSA

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