Caffeine consumption has long been held as a culprit for the loss of calcium within the body. Researchers have studied whether or not this loss of calcium is detrimental to bone status and can eventually lead to osteoporosis. Although calcium can be excreted in urine under some conditions, it would seem that many more factors play a role in developing osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is an often hereditary condition that features diminishing bone mineral density and strength over time. Post- menopausal women of white and Southeast Asian descent are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis. According to the National Institute of Health's Osteoporosis Information Center, menopausal and post-menopausal women lose the bone protective benefits that estrogen provides. The center notes that older men can also suffer from osteoporosis but often do so at a much later age than women. As a result, the fractures that eventually arise from osteoporosis also lead to more disability and death in men than in women.
Risk Factors
A bone mineral density test called a densitometry scan evaluates how much calcium and minerals are found in the segments of your bones. If the levels are low, you will be diagnosed with osteoporosis and considered at risk for fracture. In addition to age and ethnicity, low body weight relative to height, occurrence of the disease in your parents and steroidal use increases your risk of developing the condition.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant with a recommended dose of 250 to 300 mg per day. Its stimulatory properties can raise blood pressure and increase urine load in the kidneys. This increased pressure leads to a high urinary excretion rate, which can also increase the excretion of calcium in your body. However, the amount of calcium you excrete when ingesting caffeine is proportional to how much you take in.
Calcium
Since caffeine can increase calcium excretion, it stands to reason that too much caffeine will lead to the loss of bone mineral density and eventually osteoporosis, right? Not necessarily. Other factors also increase calcium excretion, such as how much protein you eat and how much alcohol you drink. In addition, whether or not you are currently deficient in the mineral is an important factor in correctly assessing if the calcium you are excreting is affecting your bone mineral density in the long run. Low calcium intake throughout life can lead to osteoporosis after bone mass peaks in the late 20s and early 30s.
Considerations
The first line of defense against osteoporosis is to ensure that you maintain adequate calcium intake. If your family history is such that you are prone to the disease, accumulating maximum bone calcium before and after peak bone mass is protective. Research results have been inconclusive in showing that caffeine increases the loss of enough bone mineral density to eventually lead to osteoporosis.
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