Abstract

Calcium Supplements and Heart Disease

Calcium supplements are widely used in the United States and other developed nations traditionally to avoid osteopenia and its complications, but now often given along with vitamin D supplementation, for maintenance of optimum health for other physiologic processes. Concern has been expressed that calcium supplementation may increase the risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease. The data is conflicting. The controversy started with a secondary analysis of a randomized placebo controlled trial of calcium supplements versus placebo in post-menopausal women for 5 years, which showed a statistically significant increase in MI. The composite end point of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), or sudden death was higher in calcium group (P=0.008), relative risk was 1.66. When the events were attempted to be adjudicated using a national registry, statistical significance was no longer found.


Author(s): Tanja Marcon

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