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.