Could Calcium Supplements be Doing More Harm than Good?

Calcium supplements are routinely prescribed to postmenopausal women, as their wellbeing is at risk of osteoporosis, a debilitating brittle bone condition. However, a study has found that for these women, stronger bones may come at a cost, and the organ that’s paying the price? Your heart.

Though the mineral supplement can be easily attained from your local pharmacy or health shops, the Swedish researchers warn that taking them puts you at significant risk of heart disease. According to study leader Professor Karl Michaelsson, ‘most people in the UK’ do not need the pills, but ‘those who have low calcium intakes perhaps should take them, maybe if they do not take dairy products.’ However, if you do eat a bit of dairy here and there, then boning up on calcium could affect your heart wellness.

Published in the British Medical Journal, the results of the study indicate that women over 50 who take calcium are twice more likely to die from heart disease than those who do not. The researchers also found that, on top of increasing your risk of having cardiovascular disease, stroke and heart attacks, if you take calcium supplements you could actually increase your risk of bone fractures. This was based on a 19-year study, carried out at the University of Uppsala, which monitored the calcium intake of over 61,000 women born between 1914 and 1940.

It was discovered that the calcium intake of the majority of women who died from heart and cardiovascular disease was far above average, and those with a calcium intake of 1,400mg a day were at the highest risk of cardiovascular or heart disease. According to Professor Michaelsson, it is estimated that half of middle-aged and older women in Britain are taking calcium supplements, even though they don’t need to. ‘Those who eat a little cheese or yoghurt simply don’t need supplements,’ he said. ‘In fact this study shows they could have very serious underlining health implications.’

Maureen Talbot, of the British Heart Foundation, commented, ‘This research does not prove that long-term calcium intake directly contributes to the onset of cardiovascular disease in women. However, the link does warrant more research to establish if calcium intake can directly cause heart problems.’ Claire Bowring, medical policy manager for the National Osteoporosis Society, added ‘We would encourage people to look at their diet first before taking supplements.’ You can attain calcium from foods such as dairy products, leafy green vegetables and certain tinned fish.