# THEORETICAL AND THERAPEUTIC ASPECTS OF CALCIFICATION

> **NIH NIH R01** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 1987 · $186,200

## Abstract

The overall objective of this proposal is to test the hypothesis that
calcium supplementation with calcium citrate would be more effective than
calcium carbonate in preventing bone loss and the development of
osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, because of its greater calcium
bioavailability and alkali load, and its reduced risk for stone formation.
This hypothesis will be tested by comparing the effects of long-term
treatment (4 yrs) with the two calcium salts (1 and 2 g/day) in 192
postmsenopausal women without fractures (early post-menopause, late and
elderly).  Aim I will assess pathophysiological consequences of calcium
suplementation, in order to show that calcium treatment suppresses
parathyroid function, inhibits bone resorption and produces a low turnovr
state of bone.  An assessment of bone mass in vivo will be obtained from
single and dual photon absorptiometry and CT scan.  Aim 2 will seek to
obtain histomorphometric confirmation from iliac crest biopsy in selected
patients.  Aim 3 will pursue metabolic calcium balance in selected patients
in order to show that improvement in calcium balance is correlated with
hormonal-metabolic changes and with histomorphometric picture.  Aim 4 will
assess potential complications of therapy.  In particular, it will
carefully perform urinary crystallization studies in order to show that
calcium citrate therapy confers less stone-forming risk than calcium
carbonate supplementation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3154868
- **Project number:** 5R01AR016061-16
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **SAM.gov UEI:** YZJ6DKPM4W63
- **Principal Investigator:** CHARLES Y.C PAK
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $186,200
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1976-05-01 → 1991-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3154868

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3154868, THEORETICAL AND THERAPEUTIC ASPECTS OF CALCIFICATION (5R01AR016061-16). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3154868. Licensed CC0.

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