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New research casts doubt over calcium supplements
9 August 2010
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Older people who take calcium supplements could be more at risk of a heart attack, according to a new review of research published in the British Medical Journal.
A team of researchers from New Zealand, Scotland and the USA tried to find out whether taking calcium supplements increases the risk of having a heart attack. They also looked at the risk of stroke and dying as a result of anything else.
Many older people take calcium supplements, particularly postmenopausal women, to prevent or treat osteoporosis. This is because women who have osteoporosis are more at risk of breaking a bone, so may take supplements. Recent trials have shown that healthy, postmenopausal women who take calcium supplements may be at an increased risk of having a heart attack. The researchers suggest this might be because calcium supplements may cause hardening of the blood vessels, which can lead to a heart attack.
In total, 11 trials were reviewed, covering almost 12,000 people. Most people were women over the age of 40. The results showed that 296 people had a heart attack. Out of these people 166 took calcium supplements, compared to 130 who did not. There were no significant differences between the number of people who had a stroke or died.
This research suggests that older people who take calcium supplements could be putting themselves at an increased risk of having a heart attack. It's therefore better to concentrate on getting enough calcium from a well-balanced diet than from taking calcium supplements.
Although this research combined a huge amount of patient data from a number of well-conducted studies, the results should be treated with some caution. For example, none of the eligible trials originally set out to study whether taking calcium supplements causes heart attacks. This means there was no standard way of assessing or reporting the results, so the researchers would have had to make a number of assumptions.
Commenting on the study, Dr Virginia Warren, Assistant Medical Director for Bupa, said: "This research suggests that older people who take calcium supplements could be putting themselves at an increased risk of having a heart attack. It's therefore better to concentrate on getting enough calcium from a well-balanced diet than from taking calcium supplements. Older, postmenopausal women may be advised to increase their intake of calcium to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, but this can be done through eating more calcium-rich foods."
Key facts
- Calcium is a mineral that helps to keep bones healthy.
- Foods such as milk, fortified breakfast cereals and tofu are good sources of calcium.
- In the UK, the recommended calcium intake is 700 milligrams (mg) a day for adults. A well-balanced diet will contain all the calcium the body needs.
- To prevent osteoporosis, postmenopausal women may be advised to increase their calcium intake, as they are particularly at risk.
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Read the guidance
Bollard MJ, Avenell A, Baron JA, et al. Effect of calcium supplements on risk of myocardical infarction and cardiovascular events: meta-analysis. BMJ 2010; 341:c3691 doi: 10.1136/bmj.c3691