Food and Chemical Toxicology 40 (2002) 1263–1270
Effects of caffeine on bone and the calcium economy
Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha 68178 Nebraska, USA
Caffeine-containing beverage consumption has been reported to be associated with reduced bone mass and increased fracture risk
in some,but not most,observational studies. Human physiological studies and controlled balance studies show a clear but only avery small depressant effect of caffeine itself on intestinal calcium absorption,and no effect on total 24-h urinary calcium excretion. The epidemiologic studies showing a negative effect may be explained in part by an inverse relationship between consumption ofmilk and caffeine-containing beverages. Low calcium intake is clearly linked to skeletal fragility,and it is likely that a high caffeineintake is often a marker for a low calcium intake. The negative effect of caffeine on calcium absorption is small enough to be fullyoffset by as little as 1–2 tablespoons of milk. All of the observations implicating caffeine-containing beverages as a risk factor forosteoporosis have been made in populations consuming substantially less than optimal calcium intakes. There is no evidence thatcaffeine has any harmful effect on bone status or on the calcium economy in individuals who ingest the currently recommendeddaily allowances of calcium. # 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Caffeine; Calcium intake; Calcium absorption; Bone mass; Milk
the probable importance of caffeine as a contributor tothe osteoporosis disease burden.
Caffeine and the related methyl xanthines are widely
In this review the possible mechanisms whereby any
distributed in plants throughout the world. All stable
ingested agent (such as caffeine) may alter bone strength
indigenous cultures having access to these plant products
are discussed,and then the evidence that may be available
have developed drinks containing these stimulants. Thus
for each with regard to caffeine is examined. The present
caffeine is probably the most commonly consumed phar-
analysis gives primary weight to investigator-controlled
macologically active compound in the world,certainly in
studies such as randomized,controlled trials and physi-
Europe and North America. Probably it is partly for
ological experiments under careful metabolic controls,
that reason that caffeine has often been a target of
as contrasted with observational studies. Where there
opportunity for investigators seeking to identify envir-
are discordances,plausible explanations are offered.
onmental factors that may contribute to the burden ofchronic disease. The first publication showing a negativeeffect of caffeine on the calcium economy came from
2. Mechanisms whereby caffeine might affect bone strength
this author’s laboratory (Heaney and Recker,1982). Shortly thereafter,Massey and colleagues (Massey and
There are four principal ways an agent may increase
Wise,1984; Massey and Hollingbery,1988; Bergman et al.,
fracture risk and/or skeletal fragility (Heaney,1996): (1)
1990) showed that a caffeine-induced diuresis increased
an increase in fall frequency and/or an interference with
urinary calcium loss acutely. On these grounds,caffeine
postural reflexes that protect the body during falls; (2) a
came very quickly to be included in everyone’s list of risk
reduction of body fat over bony prominences; (3) an
factors for osteoporosis. However,later work,summar-
interference with the bone remodeling process designed to
ized in what follows,led to substantial modifications of
detect and repair fatigue damage in bone structures; and(4) a decrease in bone tissue mass either globally or in keyarchitectural elements (such as trabecular connections).
There are no recognized data relating caffeine to the
Abbreviations: ECF,extracellular fluid; PTH,parathyroid hormone
first two mechanisms. The third mechanism is itself still
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-402-280-4029; fax: +1-402-280-
inadequately explored for bone generally,and its impor-
E-mail address: [email protected] (R.P. Heaney).
tance for osteoporotic fractures remains undefined.
0278-6915/02/$ - see front matter # 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. P I I : S 0 2 7 8 - 6 9 1 5 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 0 9 4 - 7
R.P. Heaney / Food and Chemical Toxicology 40 (2002) 1263–1270
However,fatigue damage is a major cause of failure in
induced a significant acute calcium diuresis. However,
all engineering structures; it occurs in bone on normal
subsequent studies showed that this renal effect was
use as well as with sporadic overloading and it is highly
biphasic (Kynast-Gales and Massey,1994); that is,the
likely that it contributes to bony weakness with aging.
acute increase was followed by a later fall in urinary
Its importance in this context is that the consequent
calcium. While this late fall did not completely obliter-
fragility need not be associated with a decrease in bone
ate the acute increase reported by the investigators,
mass. Thus,absence of an effect on calcium balance would
earlier estimates of the net negative effect of caffeine
not,ipso facto,absolve a putative agent from guilt in this
consumption had to be lowered substantially.
context. However,as with falls and padding,there are no
Barger-Lux and Heaney,in two further studies,were
studies implicating caffeine in tissue-level surveillance
able to find no effect at all of caffeine on total 24-h calcium
loss. In the first (Barger-Lux et al.,1990),a double-blind,
The best studied (but not necessarily the most impor-
randomized,placebo-controlled,cross-over metabolic
tant) of the causes of skeletal fragility is decrease in
balance study,subjects consumed only decaffeinated
bone tissue mass. Such decrease can be brought about
coffee,but with each cup they also took a capsule con-
either by direct effects on the feedback control system
taining either caffeine or placebo. No significant differ-
that regulates bone density,or by alteration in the supply
ence in calcium balance was found between placebo
of critical minerals (e.g. calcium and phosphorus,but in
consumption and 400 mg caffeine/day administered for
this context most likely calcium). Most of the available
19 days. The sample size was small,and the study did
evidence implicating caffeine has focused on possible
not have sufficient power to find a balance effect as
effects on calcium balance or its integral bone mass.
small as 5 mg of calcium per cup of coffee,but the
Calcium availability,in turn,can be affected by altering
urinary calcium component of the balance was suffi-
ingested intake,by altering absorption,by altering
ciently sensitive to detect a small effect,and here no hint
digestive juice calcium content,or by altering sweat
of caffeine-induced calciuria was found. In fact,the
and/or urinary calcium losses. It will be along the lines
mean 24-h urinary calcium was non-significantly greater
of this approach (i.e. effects of caffeine that may reduce
during the placebo period than during the caffeine period.
bone tissue mass) that most of the evidence available in
A similar conclusion was reached in an expanded ana-
regard to caffeine will be evaluated. However,the other
lysis of the original group of women from this labora-
mechanisms are mentioned not just for the sake of
tory,now involving over three times as many balance
completeness,but because they may need to be exam-
studies as previously,with caffeine consumption once
ined in explaining discordances between conclusions
again in the form of tea or coffee. No significant influ-
ence of caffeine-containing beverages could be found oneither urinary calcium loss (Barger-Lux and Heaney,1995) or on endogenous fecal calcium loss (Heaney and
3. Effects on the calcium economy and on bone tissue
Recker,1994). However,the negative balance effect
persisted in this analysis,and in the expanded data setwas estimated to amount to approximately 4 mg of cal-
cium lost/cup of coffee. In multiple regression modeling,this effect was localized to a slight but significant
The first published study (Heaney and Recker,1982)
decrease in calcium absorption efficiency. Calcium
showing an effect of caffeine-containing beverages on the
intake in these women averaged only about 660 mg/day,
calcium economy in humans was performed on 170 heal-
or roughly half of current recommendations. (The sig-
thy,middle-aged women,and involved careful control of
nificance of this point will be discussed further,below.)
and/or measurement of intakes of calcium,phosphorus,
Three other human experimental studies have been
protein and caffeine-containing beverages,and full col-
published. In one,eight premenopausal women were fed
lections of all excreta under metabolic balance conditions.
a diet containing either 1.4 l diet cola per day (and no
In multiple regression models,caffeine intake (in the form
other source of caffeine),or an equivalent,caffeine-free
of tea and coffee consumption) was significantly asso-
beverage for 2 weeks (Smith et al.,1989). No effect was
ciated with a slight negative balance effect,amounting
found on 24-h urine calcium. In a second study (Massey
to a loss of less than 5 mg of calcium per cup of coffee
et al.,1994),no effect of caffeine consumption was
consumed,or equivalent. There was a suggestion that
found for total serum calcium,24-h urine calcium or
the caffeine effect might have been exerted through
hydroxyproline excretion in 25 women,both pre- and
increased urinary calcium and/or through increased
postmenopause. In the third study (Hasling et al.,1992),
endogenous fecal calcium loss. This work was followed
calcium balance was measured in 85 women with post-
shortly by a series of studies by Massey and colleagues
menopausal osteoporosis. In multiple regression models
(e.g. Massey and Wise,1984; Massey and Hollingbery,
both calcium intake and coffee intake were significantly
1988; Bergman et al.,1990),showing that caffeine
and independently correlated with balance,the latter
R.P. Heaney / Food and Chemical Toxicology 40 (2002) 1263–1270
negatively. Although coffee rather than caffeine intake
intake and bone mineral density,while 13 similar stud-
was measured,they calculated a negative balance shift
ies (Hansen et al.,1991; Lacey et al.,1991; Cooper et al.,
of 6 mg/day for each 100 ml coffee consumed. This is
1992; Johansson et al.,1992; Glynn et al.,1995; Hansen,
somewhat larger than the 4 mg/cup figure of Barger-
1995; Travers-Gustafson et al.,1995; Lloyd et al.,1997;
Lux and Heaney (1995),who used very similar methods,
Grainge et al.,1998; Maini et al.,1996; Packard and
but in a much larger group of women.
Recker,1996; Picard et al.,1988; Hannan et al.,2000)
The only other controlled studies of the mechanism of
found no significant association. Two additional studies
calcium loss with caffeine exposure involved rats fed a
(Barrett-Connor et al.,1994; Harris and Dawson-
high coffee diet. In one (Yeh and Aloia,1988),rats were
Hughes,1994) found an effect,but as noted above,only
fed a diet containing 4% instant coffee by dry weight,in
in individuals consuming low calcium intakes. Five
which increases in both digestive juice calcium and
studies evaluated change in bone mineral density; four
urinary calcium were found. The relevance of these data
(Reid et al.,1994; Lloyd et al.,1998; Hannan et al.,
to human coffee consumption is doubtful. In a second
2000; Lloyd et al.,2001) found no effect of caffeine and
study (Sakamoto et al.,2001) using diets with somewhat
a fifth (Harris and Dawson-Hughes,1994) reported an
lower,but still high coffee contents (0.62 and 1.36%),
effect but,as already noted,only at low calcium intakes.
no effect was found at either intake level on indices of
Five case-control studies have been reported,one using
bone remodeling or on levels of cytokines implicated in
osteoporosis as the defining criterion (Blaauw et al.,
1994),and four using hip fracture (Nieves et al.,1992;
Thus,the best available human experimental evidence
Cumming and Klineberg,1994; Tavani et al.,1995;
indicates that,in individuals ingesting inadequate cal-
Kanis et al.,1999). Only one showed a significant dif-
cium intakes,caffeine leads to a small negative calcium
ference in caffeine consumption between cases and con-
balance,through a weak interference with calcium
trols (Kanis et al.,1999),and that one specifically a
absorption efficiency. The magnitude of the effect is
lower risk of hip fracture in tea drinkers (but not coffee
such that it has been estimated that it could be offset by
addition of only 1–2 tablespoons of milk to a cup of
Finally,four prospective studies evaluated caffeine as
coffee (Barger-Lux and Heaney,1995). This conclusion
one of several risk factors for incident fracture (Kiel et
was not tested directly with respect to caffeine,but pre-
al.,1990; Hernandez-Avila et al.,1991; Cummings et al.,
vious studies had shown that reduced absorption from
1995; Meyer et al.,1997). All four reported a significant
any cause can be offset by increased calcium intake
association. In the largest of these studies,utilizing the
(Heaney et al.,1975). Moreover,two of the observa-
Framingham cohort,the increase in hip fracture risk
tional studies,discussed further below,found an effect
was nearly three-fold. However,the highest age in the
of caffeine-containing beverages only in individuals with
cohort was 65,and there were few fractures overall. In
low calcium intakes (Barrett-Connor et al.,1994; Harris
the Norwegian study (Meyer et al.,1997) fracture risk
and Dawson-Hughes,1994). Hence the bulk of the evi-
was increased only for individuals consuming nine or
dence points to a dependence of the caffeine effect on
more cups of coffee per day,with no dose–response
relationship at lower coffee intakes. In the Study ofFractures (SOF) project cohort (Cummings et al.,1995),
the authors were able to identify 17 independent riskfactors,caffeine being one of the weaker [odds ratio
Following the original report of a caffeine effect,and
(OR)=1.2,95% confidence interval (CI)=1.0–1.5]. In
in parallel with the controlled trials and physiological
several of these prospective study reports the authors
measurements summarized above,associations were
emphasise the uncertainty of the causal connection and
sought in observational studies in which bone mass and/
note that caffeine-containing beverage consumption
or fracture rate were measured and correlated with esti-
may be a marker for other unidentified causal factors
mates of caffeine intake developed by asking people
about their consumption of caffeine-containing bev-
The two studies showing a beneficial effect in tea
erages. At least 32 such studies (summarized in Table 1)
drinkers (Kanis et al.,1999; Hegarty et al.,2000) are
have been reported in the past several years,involving
difficult to interpret in isolation. Hegarty et al. attrib-
altogether many thousands of individuals. Seven showed
uted the benefit to other factors in tea (e.g. flavonoids),
a negative effect of caffeine-containing beverages on the
but lacking experimental evidence of such an effect,this
calcium and bone economies,three a partial effect,21
conclusion can be only speculative. Most of the other
showed no effect,and two a beneficial effect specifically
studies lumped tea and coffee consumption in their
estimates of caffeine intake,and it is not possible speci-
Four cross-sectional studies (Bauer et al.,1993; Her-
fically to dissect out tea effects from coffee effects. Con-
nandez-Avila et al.,1993; Krahe et al.,1997; Rubin et
trolled trials of tea-drinking need to be conducted to
al.,1999) found a negative association between caffeine
R.P. Heaney / Food and Chemical Toxicology 40 (2002) 1263–1270
Table 1Observational studies of caffeine effects on bone
Neg effect only at < 1 serving milk/day
SOFb cohort; one of 12 factors; effect weak
Neg effect at only one of five bone sites
SOFb cohort; one of 17 factors; 20% inc. in risk
Framingham cohort; older subset than in Kiel et al.,below
Neg. effect only at Ca intakes < 744 mg/day
Pos. effect; tea drinkers had higher BMD
Weak neg association at one bone site,not others
Nurses Health Study; 3x increase in hipfx risk prior to age 65 years
No effect for coffee,small positive effect for tea
Framingham subset; risk incr. above 2 cups coffee/day
Neg correlation between caffeine and hip BMD; not spine
Effect only at 9 or more cups coffee/day
Neg. correlation between caffeine and hip BMD; not spine
a X=cross-sectional; P=prospective; CC=case-control. b Study of fractures.
If these observational studies constituted the only
Barger-Lux and Heaney,1995). This is both because of
evidence,one would have to conclude that the data were
the common reciprocity of choices relating to the two
far from consistent or conclusive,and that the effect,
beverages,and because total fluid intake is itself less
found in only a minority of studies,might be spurious.
variable than intake of its beverage components. (As
Observational studies,as is generally recognized,cannot
one source goes up,others tend to go down.) The effect
establish causality for relationships when detected. By
of calcium intake on bone status,of course,is well
the same token,negative epidemiological studies cannot
established,with more than 50 randomized,controlled
exclude a relationship. Inevitable errors in estimating
trials showing a positive effect of high calcium intake on
exposure both obscure real effects and lead to some-
bone mass,and a negative effect on fracture rate. (See:
times complex interactions of the putative independent
Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium,Phosphorus,
variables. Usually in epidemiological studies of nutri-
Magnesium,Vitamin D,and Fluoride,National Acad-
ents,none of the possible responsible factors is directly
emy Press,Washington,DC,1997 for a summary and
measured,but is instead estimated from such instru-
analysis of these studies,as well as Heaney,2000.) Thus,
ments as,in this instance,food frequency questionnaires.
estimates of caffeine intake tend to be inverse surrogates
The errors and bias that such methods introduce are
for calcium intake,a factor known to influence bone
immense and have been explored in detail elsewhere
mass. While not all observational studies have been able
(Barrett-Connor,1991; Heaney,1991; Heaney,1997).
to discern this inverse relationship between calcium and
One example of a mechanism capable of producing an
caffeine intake (e.g. Kiel et al.,1990),it is likely that
apparent association is the likely inverse relationship
intake estimation errors are responsible for this failure.
between intake of milk and consumption of caffeine-
The principal study clearly reporting an inverse associ-
containing beverages (e.g. Heaney and Recker,1982;
ation was performed under metabolic balance controls,
R.P. Heaney / Food and Chemical Toxicology 40 (2002) 1263–1270
where intakes of both caffeine-containing and calcium-
et al. (1997),in directly analysing caffeine content,
containing beverages were measured,rather than
found that food table values were high by more than
50%. A systematic overestimation of this sort would not
When a significant association is found,as in the case
affect the correlational analyses described above,but it
of caffeine and bone,the purported independent vari-
would influence comparison with dosing studies,such as
able may be only a marker for the actually responsible
that of Barger-Lux et al. (1990),who treated subjects with
(but sometimes unmeasured) causal factor. Also,whe-
a pharmacologic caffeine preparation in a measured dose
ther a factor emerges as significant in various studies
of 400 mg/day. This was considered equivalent to an
depends not just on its actual influence,but on the
intake of 2–3 cups of brewed coffee per day. If,as Lloyd
relative accuracy of the estimates of exposure to the
et al. (1997) suggest,standard coffee contains less caf-
given variable,and all others in the model. Those vari-
feine than had been thought,then the study of Barger-
ables with less estimation error can emerge as significant
Lux et al. (1990) was carried out at an intake equivalent
if they are more precise surrogates for the actual causal
to 3–5 cups of coffee daily. Their conclusion about the
factor than are estimates of exposure to that factor itself
absence of an effect on 24-h urinary calcium excretion
(Hassager et al.,1991). For example,if caffeine intake is
would thus apply to a higher level of caffeinated beverage
inversely correlated with calcium intake,and if caffeine
intake is either estimated more accurately than calciumintake or is more stable over extended periods of time,
then caffeine will displace calcium from various stepwiseregression models,even if it has no effect in its own
Caffeine and the other methyl xanthines act in a variety
right. As estimate accuracy will vary from variable to
of tissues,generally by interfering with the action of
variable,and from study to study,one can reach no
phosphodiesterase and thereby potentiating the activity
conclusion generally applicable to all epidemiological
of agonists acting through the adenylate cyclase–cAMP
pathway. At sufficient doses,therefore,they could the-
Another illustration,undoubtedly applicable to some
oretically exert effects directly on the cellular apparatus
extent in the studies summarized here,is the problem of
controlling bone remodeling. In high enough doses caf-
confounding. An example is provided by the study of
feine interferes with fetal rat skeletal development
Johansson et al. (1992) in 619 70-year-old men and
(Nakamoto et al.,1989; Schneider et al.,1990) but has
women. While a significant bivariate inverse correlation
no effect on calcium release from 2-day fetal mouse cal-
was found between intake of caffeine-containing bev-
varial cultures (Bergman et al.,1988; Lerner and Mell-
erages and bone mass (P < 0.01),the relationship dis-
stron,1992). Moreover,very high doses given to adult
appeared in a multivariate model adjusting for such
rats for 8 weeks (equivalent on a body weight basis to
other factors known adversely to affect bone,such as
60–70 cups of coffee/day in adult humans) had essen-
tially no effect on bone remodeling,as measured by
Thus,while observational studies can point to possi-
histomorphometry (Glajchen et al.,1988). Similarly,
ble relationships for testing in stronger designs,they
Sakamoto et al. (2001) found no effect of high-coffee
can,themselves,neither establish nor exclude the sought
diets on biochemical markers of bone metabolism or on
for causal connection. Moreover,in this case,given the
cytokines implicated in bone loss in adult rats. However,
evidence of an effect already available from physi-
Ohta et al. (1999) found slight,but significant reductions
ological studies,observational studies are redundant
in bone strength in ovariectomized adult rats fed very
today,or at best only confirmatory. As already noted,
high doses of caffeine (20 mg/kg body weight) for 90 days.
the observational studies are not the only basis for
Concentrations required to produce direct skeletal effects in
attributing to caffeine an effect on the calcium economy.
animals are higher than experienced by bone in human
Metabolic balance studies do show a weak negative
adult caffeine consumers,and it is unlikely,therefore,that
effect of caffeine on calcium absorption,and the most
any of the detected effects in humans operate through
plausible way to harmonize all of the data is to conclude
direct skeletal mechanisms. That was the conclusion
(1) that the effect is real and (2) that the negative pre-
reached by Glajchen et al. (1988). However,effective caf-
ponderance of the observational studies is due to the
feine concentrations can be relatively high at the gut
smallness of the effect size and to the weakness of the
mucosa during absorption from a caffeine-containing
methods available for estimating exposure,both to
meal,and it may be that the observed absorptive inter-
caffeine itself,and to other important covariates.
ference reflects a direct effect of caffeine (during its ownabsorption) on the transport system for calcium.
Finally,as noted earlier,an agent affecting propensity
to fall,soft tissue padding,or repair of fatigue damage
Most of the foregoing studies have used food and
could also explain an increase in skeletal fragility,apart
beverage table values to estimate caffeine intake. Lloyd
from any effect on the calcium economy itself. While these
R.P. Heaney / Food and Chemical Toxicology 40 (2002) 1263–1270
effects cannot be excluded,it does not seem necessary to
component of the system,namely the calcium content of
invoke such mechanisms in this setting. Fracture studies
and bone mass studies are approximately concordant.
Similarly,a sudorific effect of caffeine (increasing sweat
1,25(OH)2vitamin D level yields much more calcium
calcium losses) could explain a bone mass effect in the
from a high than from a low calcium diet. At low cal-
absence of measurable changes in absorption or non-der-
cium intakes,the ECF [Ca2+] deficit is still satisfactorily
mal outputs. However,such an explanation is also unne-
offset because the renal and osteoclastic effects of PTH
cessary,since the physiological studies do show a small
compensate for the decreased absorption potential.
effect on absorbed calcium input,probably sufficient to
Thus ECF [Ca2+] is maintained (although at a cost to
explain the small effects on bone mineral density
bone). But,at high intakes,for example those in the
range of current recommendations (NIH Consensus
In brief,the weak effect found on fracture rate in the
Conference,1994; Dietary Reference Intakes for Cal-
studies summarized in Table 1 is entirely concordant
cium,Phosphorus,Magnesium,Vitamin D,and Fluo-
with the weak effect on bone mass found in the epide-
ride,National Academy Press,Washington,DC,1997),
miological studies of Table 1,and both effects are con-
the extra few milligrams needed can be easily extracted
cordant with the weak effect found on the calcium
from the otherwise large surplus of unabsorbed calcium
in ingested food residue. At 1200–1500 mg calciumintakes,extraction of an additional 10 mg means anabsorptive increase of only approximately 0.8%,while
at a 300 mg intake [approximately the bottom quartilein the several National Health and Nutrition Evaluation
Substantial further help in harmonizing the data
Survey studies (Carroll et al.,1983; Alaimo et al.,
comes from the observed dependence,in at least two
1994)],the absorptive increase would have to be many
studies,of the effect of caffeine on low calcium intake in
times larger—for at least two reasons: (1) because 10 is a
the subjects concerned (Barrett-Connor et al.,1994;
larger fraction of 300 mg ingested than of 1200; (2)
Harris and Dawson-Hughes,1994). Because the prob-
because at low intakes there is less unabsorbed dietary
able basis for the effect is an interference with calcium
calcium residue available from which to extract further
absorption efficiency (Barger-Lux and Heaney,1995),
calcium. Additionally,because absorption is already
this interaction with calcium intake reveals an important
operating close to its maximal efficiency,there is less
feature of the underlying relationships.
As background,it is useful to recall that calcium ion
It is likely that these quantitative aspects of the reg-
concentration in the extracellular fluid (ECF) is exqui-
ulatory system reflect the high calcium intakes that pre-
sitely regulated; that is,departures from the reference
vailed during hominid evolution (Eaton and Konner,
level are met with hormonal responses designed to cor-
1985). In any event,as just noted,the feedback control
rect them. The result is that even large swings in inputs
system,operating to maintain constancy of ECF [Ca2+]
and outputs over the course of a day are associated with
concentration,is ‘‘satisfied’’ when the decrement is off-
only tiny fluctuations in ECF [Ca2+]. The miniscule
set. There is no known mechanism that ‘‘informs’’ the
decrease in ECF [Ca2+] produced by an external nega-
control system where the needed calcium came from,
tive balance of only a few mg/day (the effect size of 3–4
such as whether from otherwise untapped calcium in the
cups of coffee,as estimated by Barger-Lux and Heaney,
digestate,or from internal stores (bone). In brief,the
1995) would be expected to evoke a small increase in
higher the calcium intake,the more readily will the body
parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion. PTH,in turn,
adjust to extra demands for calcium,to increased losses,
activates not one,but three effector mechanisms
designed to raise ECF [Ca2+] and to restore it to its priorlevel. These are: (1) increased synthesis of 1,25(OH)2vitamin D (and hence an improvement of absorption
efficiency for ingested calcium); (2) increased renal tub-ular reabsorption of calcium (and hence a reduction of
James Lind,the Scottish naval surgeon who is cred-
urinary calcium losses); and (3) increased bone resorp-
ited with eradicating scurvy in the British Navy,noted
tion,brought about both by direct effect of PTH on the
that onset of symptoms of scurvy was hastened among
resorptive apparatus and indirectly by enhancement of
sailors performing heavy physical work. The solution,
osteoclastic work efficiency through PTH-induced low-
of course,was not to decrease the work load of British
ering of ECF phosphate concentration. Internally,ECF
sailors,but to provide them a source of what would
[Ca2+] is returned to the reference level. But the net
come to be recognized,nearly 200 years later,as an
effect on external calcium balance of these three
essential nutrient,vitamin C. So,too,with caffeine’s
mechanisms depends entirely on the one unregulated
exposure of the bone-wasting effect of inadequate calcium
R.P. Heaney / Food and Chemical Toxicology 40 (2002) 1263–1270
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CURRICULUM VITAE Sriram Dasu Associate Professor Data Sciences and Operations Marshall School of Business University of Southern California Los Angeles CA 90089 I. EDUCATION 1980 B.Tech (Mechanical Engineering) Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. 1982 MBA (Operations Management) Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta II. RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS 1. S. Dasu, R. Ahmadi, and S.M.