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High-dose calcium pills appear to leave deposits of the mineral on artery walls,
increasing the chance of heart problems, although some dispute the link. Photo: ALAMY
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9:00PM GMT 04 Feb 2013
They made their conclusions after following the health of almost 390,000
people, aged 50 to 71, for 12 years. The team, from the US’s National Cancer
Institute, found men who took at least 1,000mg daily were at a 19 per cent
increased risk of dying from heart disease, than those who took none.
“We found that supplemental but not dietary calcium intake was associated
with an increased cardiovascular disease mortality in men but not in women,” the
authors concluded.
They added: “Whether there is a sex difference in the cardiovascular effect
of calcium supplement warrants further investigation. Given the extensive use of
calcium supplement in the population, it is of great importance to assess the
effect of supplemental calcium use beyond bone health,"
Their study is published in the Journal of the American Medical
Association. Previous studies have found a link between high-dose calcium
pills and heart disease deaths in both men and women. About five million people
in Britain are thought to take calcium supplements in one form or another.
Dr Carrie Ruxton, of the Health Supplements Information Service, said:
“Calcium is an essential mineral for the health of the bones and the nervous
system. Ensuring adequate intake is vital.”
High-dose calcium 'increases heart disease deaths'
