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Arterial plaque is composed mainly of fatty deposits and calcium, and is a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
As of 2011, there is mixed evidence as to whether taking a calcium supplement contributes to arterial plaque build-up and increases your risk of heart disease.
While populations at risk for osteoporosis are typically advised to take calcium supplements, be sure to consult your physician before incorporating a supplement into your wellness routine.
Arterial Plaque
Your arteries are blood vessels that deliver oxygen-infused blood to your heart and throughout your body. Arterial plaque is the accumulation of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other blood substances in the arteries. Plaque build-up, a condition known as atherosclerosis, reduces blood flow and can cause heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.
Calcium Supplements
An essential mineral, calcium is required for vascular constriction, the function of the muscular system, proper nerve signaling and numerous metabolic functions. 99 percent of your body’s calcium is stored in the bones and teeth, where it plays a vital part in building and maintaining bone structure.
Osteoporosis is a common health condition in which the bones grow frail and brittle. While osteoporosis can affect people in all age groups, it is most frequently associated with menopause.
According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately half of women over the age of 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis. To support bone health and reduce the risk of osteoporosis, calcium supplements are often recommended for older populations.
Calcium Supplements and Arterial Plaque
According to Mayo Clinic cardiologist Martha Grogan, M.D., more research is needed to ascertain whether calcium supplements increase arterial plaque and contribute to the risk of heart disease.
She notes that only supplements that contain strictly calcium are considered potential risk factors for plaque, and that no known hazard is associated with supplements that combine calcium with other micronutrients.
Despite the potential risks associated with calcium supplements, calcium guidelines for individuals with osteoporosis stay the same.
Related Research
In a March 2001 article published in “Circulation: the Journal of the American Heart Association,” researchers reported that fatty plaque deposits were more strongly associated with heart disease risk than arterial calcification.
The researchers, affiliated with Harvard Medical School, assessed the arteries of 20 post-mortem subjects and found that individual cases of heart disease were linked to fat and cholesterol buildup in the arteries.
However, the researchers noted that calcification may be an indication of coronary artery disease. A July 2010 article in the journal “Menopause” examined whether calcium and vitamin D supplements increased arterial plaque in a sample of 754 women who had undergone hysterectomy.
The researchers analyzed arterial calcification levels over a period of seven years and found that supplementation with calcium and vitamin D did not increase coronary artery calcified plaque among postmenopausal women.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/533262-do-calcium-supplements-cause-arterial-plaque/
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