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Calcium Supplements May Raise Heart Attack Risk
By Suzy Cohen, RPh on 05/17/2011
Dear Pharmacist,
Is it safe for me to take calcium supplements? You said on facebook that they might increase heart problems. Why is that?
--.N.R., Seattle, Washington
Answer: My post was based on the April 2011 research published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) that linked cardiovascular events (think heart attack or stroke) increased in older women who took calcium supplements.
Calcium is suggested for post-menopausal women in order to maintain or build bone strength. Recently, researchers looked at data from 16,718 women who were not taking calcium supplements at the start of the famous Women’s Health Initiative trial. They poured over the data and found that women who were already taking calcium and vitamin D supplements at the start of the trial did not have any greater risk of heart attack. In contrast, the women who began taking calcium and vitamin d supplements during the trial, had an increased risk of heart attack.
The scientists suspect the trouble occurs because of the abrupt change in blood calcium levels, rather than total intake of calcium. That said, high blood levels of calcium have been linked to hardening of the arteries (calcification), which may partially explain their findings.
Data from 13 different trials (including 29,000 people), consistently points to increased risk of heart attack and stroke, uncannily associated with calcium supplements (with or without vitamin D). This is a hot topic, and some physicians feel strongly that calcium is the master mineral of bone health.
I think we need a good study to determine what is going on. For sure, the calcium you get from food sources is highly bioavailable, and hasn’t been shown to cause calcification. The BMJ study refers to supplements and it begs the question, as to what kind of calcium supplements are to blame? Are certain forms better than others? This was not teased out.
For the time being, if you are at risk for cardiovascular complications, or stroke, my suggestion is that you avoid calcium supplements. Get your calcium from food because it is highly bio-available; food-derived calcium improves estrogen balance which protects bone mass. Eat lots of leafy greens, Swiss Chard, kale, kelp, spinach, lettuce and broccoli. Tahini’s good too. I’m not a huge fan of dairy, but this is certainly another option.
Don’t forget the obvious, weight-bearing exercise, which will reduce your risk of osteoporosis. If you happen to take a bisphosphonate bone-building medication (Boniva, Actonel or Fosamax), it can reduce levels of calcium so your doctor may suggest this mineral for you, in order to restore levels to normal. Calcium is to be appreciated not feared, but take it only if you are deficient. Refer to my Drug Mugger book to see if you take a medicine that depletes it.
Did You Know?
People with Celiac disease or gluten intolerance are prone to developing osteoporosis because they have trouble absorbing calcium from food.
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I'm a graduate of the University of Florida and has been a licensed pharmacist for nearly 20 years. People call me “America’s Most Trusted Pharmacist” because I've spent the last 10 years writing a syndicated column on health which reaches millions of people each week.
Read more from Suzy at www.dearpharmacist.com
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Comments
Anonymous
Dear Pharmacist,
What about men? I'm 61 and last year started taking a calcium supplement (Nature Made brand) 750 mg + D3 (500 IU) + K (40 mcg) along with a Vit D3 (1000 IU). Am I overdoing it and at risk?
Best regards, JM, NY.
Anonymous
hi i think it applies for both genders.
dear mrs suzy i appreciate ur articles ,best wishes.
can i have ur e-mail
Lori
The problem is that we are really myopic when it comes to supplementing nutrients. Calcium will not go to where it belongs without it's co-factors. Of course D3 is important, but vitamin K2 dictates calcium deposition and has unfortunately gone missing in our daily diet. When we eat low fat versions of real fat foods we've eliminated any K2 (and if it's a dairy product - more calcium is added). If our meat and dairy are not grass fed - forget K2. Most of us don't eat much in the way of animal organs, which are a really good source of K2. We've mucked up our gut bacteria so any conversion from K1 to K2 isn't gonna happen. We also don't eat much in the way of fermented foods, so that source of K2 isn't happening either. And then there's magnesium, potassium, zinc, and a bunch of other minerals that play a role in our ability to utilize calcium. When we don't get the co-factors, calcium will store in soft tissue like the arteries, brain, kidneys, etc. And I'm really not convinced we need as much calcium as we're told, especially if we are getting plenty of these other nutrients. My very petite grandmother lived to be 96, never took a calcium supplement, but ate whole, real foods from their grass fed animals (including plenty of lard) and vegetable garden. No bone problems, or any other health issues. Maybe we need a bit more hindsight...
Dr. HK
Dear Pharmacist,
It is not my habit to respond to any published comments originating on the Internet. Your comments are in any case most often correct and to the point.
Unfortunately in this particular situation, too much reporting in the media has occurred regarding the Calcium publication in the BMJ. A lot of harm has been done to an important and essential mineral.
However, may I take the liberty and make you aware and remind you of the posssible beneficial effects of adding MAGNESIUM at a correct level besides Vitamin K2 and Vitamin D, to any Calcium Supplementation regimen.
I fully agree with the comments made by Lori.
I am not sure what your reason is for stearing clear of a comment regarding the possible cardiac benefits of magnesium.
In addition, I wish to stress that magnesium is not only important for women, but it is equally important for men as well, especially if they are on calcium supplementation for any reason.
It has been reported that a large proportion of Americans are deficient in magnesium. I am convinced that this does not only apply to Americans.
With Best Wishes
Anonymous
I shun all calcium supplements due to the widespread contamination of most sources of inorganic calcium with nanobacteria. I have never found a calcium supplement label that says something like: "Tested and guaranteed to be free of nanobacteria."
By ingesting calcium contaminated with Nanobacterium sanguineum you are increasing the potential for calcification within your body. Deposits of calcium phosphate laid down by nanobacteria cause problems regardless of locus in the body.
Examples:
Anonymous
Lori, Dr HK you have covered calcium and the benefits involving same, yes calcium is essential for our health, the only drawback is an overload in our blood, as same must be kept in our bones as storage and future use, natural form of calcium would be nice. JAM
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