New research is suggesting that getting more calcium in your diet may help you live longer. Scientists came to this conclusion when their study indicated that men who consumed the most calcium in their diets were 25% less likely to die during the proceeding ten years than their contemporaries who consumed much less calcium.

The findings, which were published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, confirm previous studies that found a link between longevity and calcium consumption in both men and women. Furthermore, previous work had focused on calcium in diet and chronic disease, whereas the current study looked at the relationship between calcium consumption and mortality.

In the study in question, doctors followed more than 23,000 men between the ages of 45 and 79 years of age for ten years. Baseline diets were established at the initiation of the study. By the time the trial had ended, over 2300 of them had passed away.

Drawing from this data, the researchers determined that the men who consumed the most calcium in their diet had a 25% lower risk of dying from any cause and a 23% lower risk of dying from heart disease. This was in comparison to the men who had the least amount of calcium in their diets. Calcium in the diet did not seem to have any bearing on the risk of dying from cancer.

Top calcium consumers took in nearly 2000 milligrams per day, compared to the lowest levels of consumption, which were 1000 milligrams per day. The US recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for calcium for men between the ages of 19 and 50 years is 1000 milligrams. The main source of calcium for the subjects was milk and milk products.

What role calcium may play in increasing longevity is not completely clear, but certain things are known about it. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and believed to play a role in reducing serum cholesterol, blood pressure, and sugar levels. It is required for the maintenance of bone health, proper muscle functioning, expansion and contraction of the blood vessels, and nerve cell transmission. We consume calcium from many sources, including foods (dairy), leafy green vegetables (spinach and kale), supplements, and some medication.

Inadequate amounts of calcium in the diet is a frequent problem for people in this country, and though the consequences are not felt in the short term, there are adverse consequences to calcium deficiency (hypocalcemia) over time. Certain groups are at greater risk than others, including postmenopausal women, people with eating disorders, vegetarians, and people who are lactose intolerant.

If you are concerned about the amount of calcium in your diet, speak with your primary care physician. For more information, visit the website for the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements.