Calcium Supplements May Increase Cardiovascular Risk
Taking calcium supplements to prevent and treat osteoporosis is a widespread practice. However, two recent analyses of scientific literature have shown that taking a daily calcium supplement, with or without vitamin D, increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
What is the source of the data?
This data comes from the results of two large-scale analyses. The first analysis, published in July 2010, was done on studies involving 12,000 participants, and the second, published in February 2011, involved 29,000 subjects.
What are the results?
Calcium supplements used with or without vitamin D increase cardiovascular risk, particularly of myocardial infarction, which may be approximately 30% higher. According to researchers, this data justifies a reassessment of the use of calcium supplements, with or without vitamin D, to control osteoporosis.
What does this mean?
The decision of whether or not to take calcium supplements should be made with your doctor, who will take into account your overall state of health. It is important to keep in mind that in addition to calcium, milk products provide several essential nutrients such as vitamin B12 and riboflavin. Besides the impact milk products have on bone health, they may also reduce the risk of colon cancer, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and even cardiovascular disease and hypertension.
Try this delicious calcium-rich meal
Sources
Bolland MJ et al. Effect of calcium supplements on risk of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular event: meta-analysis. BMJ 2010;340:c3691.
Bolland MJ et al. Calcium supplements with or without vitamin D and risk of cardiovascular events: reanalysis of the Women’s Health Initiative limited access dataset and meta-analysis. BMJ 2011 Apr 19;342:d2040. doi: 10.1136/bmj.d2040
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