Posted on 01/16/2008 8:21:21 AM PST by blam
Calcium tablets 'raise risk of heart attacks'
By Nic Fleming, Medical Correspondent
Last Updated: 2:28am GMT 16/01/2008
Calcium supplements taken by about a million women could increase their risk of suffering heart attacks and strokes, scientists said yesterday.
Researchers found that women aged 55 and over who took the tablets to combat osteoporosis were almost 50 per cent more likely to have a heart attack than those given placebos. Their chances of having a stroke during the five years of the study were elevated by more than a third.
Three million people in Britain suffer from osteoporosis, with one in three women and one in 12 men suffering from it during their lifetimes. The bone-wasting condition causes someone to break a bone, often a wrist, spine or hip, every three minutes.
Some researchers have previously suggested that calcium supplements could protect against cardiovascular disease by reducing levels of bad LDL cholesterol. However, the evidence has been unclear.
The supplements have also become popular following recent research showing that they can reduce weight gain in older women.
The new study, published on the British Medical Journal website, examined incidents of cardiovascular disease among women in New Zealand taking 1,000mg calcium supplements every day.
Doctors in Britain recommend that women who have been through the menopause take 800-1,200mg of the supplements per day to reduce the risk of fractures.
The new findings could also apply to women who do not take calcium supplements but consume a lot of dairy products, giving them a higher than average level of natural calcium in their diet.
Prof Ian Reid, of Auckland University, the lead author of the study, said that the increased risk of vascular disease seemed to outweigh the benefits of the supplements.
Prof Reid used data from a previous study on bone fractures in which half of almost 1,500 healthy post-menopausal women aged 55 years or over were given daily calcium supplements, while the rest received placebos.
Researchers found that women in the supplement group were 49 per cent more likely to have a heart attack and 37 per cent more likely to have a stroke, than those on placebos.
Judy O'Sullivan, a cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "More rigorous research is needed before any firm conclusions are drawn.
"Anyone who has been advised by their doctor to take calcium supplements to protect their bones should not stop doing so in light of this study alone."
I take calcium every day. I’ll wait until the next study to affirm my decision to do so.
ping
I drink WHOLE milk....with my oatmeal.
“The bone-wasting condition causes someone to break a bone, often a wrist, spine or hip, every three minutes.”
We need to find that person and put him or her into protective custody.
Oh, swell. Now what are we supposed to do? Heart attack vs. being incapacitated with hip fracture when I fall off my horse; nice choice.
I also take calcium tablets, 1000 mgs everyday, have done so for 15 years. hmmmmmmmmmm
The best line in the whole article.
The effects probably balance out!
alot of honest research is needed. Thank God for the internet. There are some “scientific” studies which say that large doses of vitamin c are not good but after reading alot of medical info on vitamincfoundation.org I have found that to be false. And I take huge doses whenever I get sick with great results...the sickness never fully developes and I am able to work and do everything. THe problem is that such wonderfull remedies are in competition with much more expensive pharmacueticals.
That’s what I THINK, too. I also added Grape juice to my diet....cheaper than wine...and I can still think clearly.
Not surprising, considering calcium is the main element involved in muscle contraction.
From what I’ve read, most people get near enough calcium from their diet. Used to get alot from the water.
But the other side of the coin is magnesium - which makes muscles relax. And most Americans don’t get enough of it.
Simple. Exercise. Cardio and weight training. I honestly don't know why people avoid this like the plague.
sw
> Now what are we supposed to do? <
What you and everybody else should do is wait until the results of this study are critiqued by other scientists.
Then if it passes muster, we all should wait again to see if the results can be replicated by at least two more careful, double-blind, peer-reviewed studies.
It’s well understood that a study like this one can have many flaws, and for that reason, medical science will almost never jump to a “firm conclusion” on the basis of one single research project.
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