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Osteoporosis and Caffeine [AJCN 2001: 74: 569-70 (2001)]

Is caffeine a risk factor for bone loss in the elderly?

"Dietary caffeine acutely increases urinary calcium loss, and these losses are not entirely compensated for in the 24 hr after caffeine consumption." Young people can compensate for this, but older people are less adaptable. However, because of all of the lifestyle and genetic variables, no major study shows such an association. But new studies indicate that the main problem is with people of a certain genetic profile, a tt VDR phenotype. Only 5 of 96 women had significant bone loss with higher caffeine intake. Only 11 of 96 women have the relevant phenotype.

What advice can the author of the paper above give to those concerned about osteoporosis? Adequate calcium intake seems to counteract caffeine consumption. [Tums has 200mg of calcium. Calcium is absorbed over 12 hr, so taking a few tums in the morning and a few at night is safe and perhaps useful.] For the elderly, Linda Massey (author of article), writes:

16 oz of brewed coffee or 32 oz brewed tea are okay. She writes some cans of most caffeinated drinks are okay, but there are lots of reasons elsewhere relating to sugar and sweeteners that indicate soda in general is important to avoid.