Heavy calcium use a heart risk
The use of calcium supplements to prevent and treat osteoporosis should be reassessed after a new study has shown that they can increase the risk of heart attacks by 30%.
The researchers led by Dr Mark Bolland of Auckland University, analysed five studies of more than 8,000 patients with half on calcium. Of the patients who took calcium supplements, 143 had heart attacks compared to 111 on a placebo.
Previous studies had found no increased risk of heart attacks with higher calcium intake from food and the analysis suggested the hazard was associated directly with the supplements.
Endocrinologist Peter Ebeling, who is medical director of Osteoporosis Australia, said the patients in the analysis had total calcium intakes of up to 2,400 milligrams a day – far higher than the recommended intake of 1,000 to 1,300 milligrams.
But Professor Ebeling said that people should not over-react to the analysis. He said Australian research involving 1,450 patients had also shown that there had been no increase in heart attacks for women on calcium supplements of 1,200 milligrams a day.
