A recent study calls into question the wisdom of taking calcium supplements. What exactly did this study show and should you take calcium supplements?

The study was published in the British Medical Journal (Effect of calcium supplements on risk of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular events: meta-analysis.Bolland MJ – BMJ – 01-JAN-2010; 341: c3691). This type of study is called a “meta-analysis” which means that rather than setting up an experiment in which they gave half of the participants calcium and the other half placebo, they instead reviewed OTHER studies previously done and reported on any correlations they found.

They looked only at trials that had been randomized placebo-controlled trials (the best kind of experiment) wherein the participants had a mean age of at least 40 years and took at least 500 mg of calcium daily.

One part of the analysis showed that 143 people who took supplemental calcium had a myocardial infarction (heart attack) while 111 people who did NOT take supplemental calcium had a myocardial infarction. The conclusion was that taking calcium supplements (without Vitamin D in this case) increased one’s risk of myocardial infarction.

Taking calcium supplements did NOT appear to increase the risk of stroke (lack of blood supply to part of the brain) nor the risk of death.

On the other hand, we do know that adequate calcium is key to preventing osteoplorosis (soft bones) and hence also in preventing broken bones which can be deadly in older folks (such as broken hips or compression fractures in the spine).

So what do we do? I think that the final word is still out on this topic. An earlier study in New Zealand seemed to indicate that calcium in one’s diet did NOT increase the risk of heart disease whereas calcium in the form of supplements  DID tend to be riskier. At present I am recommending that people get adequate amounts of calcium in their diet if at all possible. If that is not possible (for example if you can’t take dairy products) then supplements of calcium (with Vit. D) are appropriate UNLESS you have a personal history of heart disease. In that situation I do NOT recommend calcium supplements at present.

I think there will be more information coming out on this, but for now, that’s how I see it!

DTD