No need to fear calcium
November 27, 2012
THERE is no connection between
calcium intake and heart disease or
stroke, according to research
published in Advances in Nutrition
November issue.
The study involved a range of
academic and industry experts in
the fields of nutrition, cardiology,
epidemiology, food science, bone
health, and integrative medicine,
who analysed data (including 16
studies involving more than
358,000 individuals) on the
relationship between calcium
supplement use and risk of
cardiovascular events, focusing on:
strength, consistency, doseresponse,
and biological
plausibility.
According to the researchers,
several of the studies (including
two epidemiological studies and a
meta-analysis of randomised,
controlled clinical trials- including a
subgroup analysis from the
Women’s Health Initiative) which
prompted concern about a
potential association between
calcium supplement use and a
small increase in the risk of adverse
cardiovascular events had “a
number of issues”.
These issues, included: inadequate
compliance with the intervention,
use of nontrial calcium
supplements, potential bias in
event ascertainment, and lack of
information on and adjustment for
known cardiovascular risk
determinants, and according to the
researchers “suggest that bias and
confounding cannot be excluded as
explanations for the reported
associations”.
In addition, the study determined
that findings from other cohort
studies suggest no detrimental
effect of calcium from diet or
supplements, with or without
vitamin D, on cardiovascular
disease risk.
The authors went further to note
that “little evidence exists for
plausible biological mechanisms to
link calcium supplement use with
adverse cardiovascular outcomes”.
As such, the report concluded
that the evidence presented in
studies to date which have linked
calcium and increased cardiovascular
disease risk is not sufficient to call
for the end of calcium
supplementation for people who
do not obtain enough of the
mineral through dietary measures.
MEANWHILE, the Australian
Self-Medication Industry has
lauded the findings, saying that
consumers can take calcium
supplements with confidence.
"There have been recent,
controversial, articles suggesting that
there was a link between calcium
supplements and the risks of stroke
and cardiovascular disease,” ASMI
Regulatory and Scientific Affairs
Director, Steven Scarff said.
“The publication of this most
recent review now provides good
evidence that calcium supplements
are safe and are not associated
with an increased risk of heart
disease or stroke,” Scarff added.
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