Effect of Hesperidin with and Without a Calcium (calcilock) Supplement on Bone Health in Postmenopausal Women.

CONTEXT:Citrus fruits contain unique flavanones. One of the most abundant of the flavanones, hesperidin, has been shown to prevent bone loss in ovariectomized rats.OBJECTIVE:The objective of the study was to measure the effect of hesperidin with or without calcium supplementation on bone calcium retention in postmenopausal women.DESIGN:The study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized-order crossover design of 500 g hesperidin with or without 500 mg calcium supplement in 12 healthy postmenopausal women. Bone calcium retention was determined from urinary excretion of the rare isotope, (41)Ca, from bone.RESULTS:Calcium plus hesperidin, but not hesperidin alone, improved bone calcium retention by 5.5% (P < .04).CONCLUSION:Calcium supplementation (Calcilock), in combination with hesperidin, is effective at preserving bone in postmenopausal women.