Do Calcium Supplements Help With Hot Flashes?

Hot flashes affect 50 percent to 85 percent of women at some time during menopause. A hot flash is characterized by the feeling of heat and sweating, particularly around the head and neck. Although hot flashes are considered a symptom of menopause, they can occur during pregnancy and premenstrually. Calcium supplements have been studied as a possible treatment.

Hot Flashes

Hot flashes often result from declining estrogen levels at menopause and are seen in women with low estrogen. However, women with high estrogen and fluctuating estrogen levels also experience hot flashes. Hot flashes commonly start just before or during the menstrual period during perimenopause. The hot flashes may go away after menopause or may continue. Some women may also experience headaches, insomnia or palpitations.

Calcium Supplements and Menopause

Calcium supplements are often prescribed to postmenopausal women to help prevent or treat osteoporosis, which occurs during menopause. Bone mass may decrease 3 percent to 5 percent a year in the first few years of menopause, although it typically slows to less than 1 percent a year after age 65. The Office of Dietary Supplements says that it is also important for women to consume adequate amounts of dietary calcium as it may help slow the rate of bone loss.

Calcium Supplements and Hot Flashes

In a study of breast cancer survivors reported in the August 2010 "International Journal of Women's Health," 49 percent of the women studied had hot flashes. Most of the women were menopausal. Of the women who had hot flashes, 44 percent were taking calcium supplements. In the group of women without hot flashes, only 18 percent took calcium supplements. The authors reported that they were surprised by the results because they had seen research that indicated calcium was helpful in premenstrual syndrome and recommended further studies.

Calcium and Core Temperature

An article in the January 2005 issue of the "Journal of the American Board of Family Practice" reported that calcium supplementation may increase the core temperature of the body in mice. Mice fed a calcium-supplemented diet consistently had higher core temperatures than those fed a diet without calcium supplementation. Previous research reported in the August 1995 "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism" found that the majority of hot flashes in the study population of postmenopausal women occurred after a rise in core temperature.

Final Words

Menopause is a complex process affecting many aspects of a woman's health. Current research indicates calcium supplementation may be a factor in hot flashes. If you have questions or concerns about menopause and calcium supplementation, consult a health care professional.