The conclusion from a meta-analysis released in yesterday's British Medical Journal concludes: "Calcium supplements with or without vitamin D modestly increase the risk of cardiovascular events, especially myocardial infarction, a finding obscured in the WHI CaD Study by the widespread use of personal calcium supplements. A reassessment of the role of calcium supplements in osteoporosis management is warranted."
Bonnie - where have we heard this before? It is actually a recycled study that has been published over an over again in different variations since 2008. This current version looked at post menopausal women taking 1000 mg. calcium in addition to what they may have been taking personally. This, of course, is way too much calcium for the average individual. The study never mentions the source of calcium taken, which has a lot to do with how well it is absorbed.
As I have suggested time and time again, calcium should not be self-prescribed, is not one-size-fits-all, and should always be taken with magnesium and vitamin D. There is absolutely a chance for increased heart risk if not taken properly and evaluated by a licensed health professional. The term "calcification" means buildup in arteries and other soft tissue from excess calcium by either taking too much or not being properly absorbed.
Here is the history and different variations of the BMJ study.
August 2010, NCI Well Connect Blog
"A meta analysis of close to a dozen clinical trials involving about 12,000 patients found calcium supplementation to be associated with a 20% to 30% increase in heart attack risk.
The findings were derived from 11 randomized trials in which participants took calcium supplements (500 milligrams or more per day) without vitamin D. After adjusting for differences in study design, the researchers concluded that calcium supplementation was associated with a modest increase in risk for heart attacks, but not for strokes or death from heart disease. The study appears today in the journal BMJ Online First.
Bonnie - as I have said many times, I am not surprised to see this results, albeit from a meta analysis, which I acknowledge with trepidation. Calcium, in doses such as those researched in this study, should never being taken alone. Calcium should always be taken with vitamin D and magnesium to assure optimal absorption. In addition, I anticipate that the source of calcium viewed in these studies was poor (such as carbonate, oyster shell, etc.). Poor calcium sources further reduce optimal absorption.
The reason why one would see an increase in heart attack risk is that calcium is improperly absorbed. It then roams freely in soft tissue and embeds itself in areas such as the arteries and kidneys. Calcium, as well as any dietary supplement, should be recommended by a licensed professional to assure individual needs are taken into account."
Bonnie's Blog With Bonnie and Steve Minsky (2008)
Study Suggests Heart Risk From Calcium Supplements
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
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