Men with advanced prostate cancer usually go through androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) which reduces the levels of male sex hormones, on which the cancer depend. This reduction in hormones can lead to bone density mineral loss or osteoporosis, just like women going through the menopause.
To reduce the chances of bone fractures, many of these men are given calcium and vitamin D which seems logical, but there is a problem.
Men who take calcium and vitamin D supplements to prevent bone loss may actually be doing more harm than good. It’s been shown that these supplements do not prevent the bone loss, and may “increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and aggressive prostate cancer” (the very disease that the patient is being treated for).
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