HealthNotes

Research on calcium supplements over the past few years has been both positive and negative. For example, several studies found an association between calcium supplementation and an increased risk of cardiovascular side effects, while at least two other studies concluded that there weren’t any cardiovascular risks associated with calcium supplement use. Now, another study recently published in Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Disease, and reported on by NutraIngredients, adds to the evidence that calcium supplements don’t increase the risk of heart attacks or other cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. For the new study, researchers looked at the incidence of heart attacks and other CVD events in relation to both dietary and supplemental calcium in a group of 6,236 people. The participants were between the ages of 45 and 84, and they were followed over a period of about ten years. During that time, the researchers recorded 208 heart attacks and 641 CVD events and found that:

• There was no significant relationship between supplemental calcium intake and heart attacks or other CVD events. The results were the same regardless of the participants’ gender, race/ethnicity, or whether they had chronic kidney disease.
• The lack of relationship between calcium supplementation and CVD event risk was seen in both pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women. This confirms the findings from another study, and is important since calcium supplements are often recommended to women to support bone health, especially after menopause.

With several studies now confirming the safety of calcium supplements, and with clear evidence indicating that they may help prevent osteoporosis in pre- and post-menopausal women, it remains to be seen whether this will help restore consumer confidence in calcium.

Source: Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Disease