Posted on 01/16/2008 8:21:21 AM PST by blam
Calcium tablets 'raise risk of heart attacks'
By Nic Fleming, Medical Correspondent
Last Updated: 2:28am GMT 16/01/2008
Calcium supplements taken by about a million women could increase their risk of suffering heart attacks and strokes, scientists said yesterday.
Researchers found that women aged 55 and over who took the tablets to combat osteoporosis were almost 50 per cent more likely to have a heart attack than those given placebos. Their chances of having a stroke during the five years of the study were elevated by more than a third.
Three million people in Britain suffer from osteoporosis, with one in three women and one in 12 men suffering from it during their lifetimes. The bone-wasting condition causes someone to break a bone, often a wrist, spine or hip, every three minutes.
Some researchers have previously suggested that calcium supplements could protect against cardiovascular disease by reducing levels of bad LDL cholesterol. However, the evidence has been unclear.
The supplements have also become popular following recent research showing that they can reduce weight gain in older women.
The new study, published on the British Medical Journal website, examined incidents of cardiovascular disease among women in New Zealand taking 1,000mg calcium supplements every day.
Doctors in Britain recommend that women who have been through the menopause take 800-1,200mg of the supplements per day to reduce the risk of fractures.
The new findings could also apply to women who do not take calcium supplements but consume a lot of dairy products, giving them a higher than average level of natural calcium in their diet.
Prof Ian Reid, of Auckland University, the lead author of the study, said that the increased risk of vascular disease seemed to outweigh the benefits of the supplements.
Prof Reid used data from a previous study on bone fractures in which half of almost 1,500 healthy post-menopausal women aged 55 years or over were given daily calcium supplements, while the rest received placebos.
Researchers found that women in the supplement group were 49 per cent more likely to have a heart attack and 37 per cent more likely to have a stroke, than those on placebos.
Judy O'Sullivan, a cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "More rigorous research is needed before any firm conclusions are drawn.
"Anyone who has been advised by their doctor to take calcium supplements to protect their bones should not stop doing so in light of this study alone."
I take calcium every day. I’ll wait until the next study to affirm my decision to do so.
ping
I drink WHOLE milk....with my oatmeal.
“The bone-wasting condition causes someone to break a bone, often a wrist, spine or hip, every three minutes.”
We need to find that person and put him or her into protective custody.
Oh, swell. Now what are we supposed to do? Heart attack vs. being incapacitated with hip fracture when I fall off my horse; nice choice.
I also take calcium tablets, 1000 mgs everyday, have done so for 15 years. hmmmmmmmmmm
The best line in the whole article.
The effects probably balance out!
alot of honest research is needed. Thank God for the internet. There are some “scientific” studies which say that large doses of vitamin c are not good but after reading alot of medical info on vitamincfoundation.org I have found that to be false. And I take huge doses whenever I get sick with great results...the sickness never fully developes and I am able to work and do everything. THe problem is that such wonderfull remedies are in competition with much more expensive pharmacueticals.
That’s what I THINK, too. I also added Grape juice to my diet....cheaper than wine...and I can still think clearly.
Not surprising, considering calcium is the main element involved in muscle contraction.
From what I’ve read, most people get near enough calcium from their diet. Used to get alot from the water.
But the other side of the coin is magnesium - which makes muscles relax. And most Americans don’t get enough of it.
Simple. Exercise. Cardio and weight training. I honestly don't know why people avoid this like the plague.
sw
> Now what are we supposed to do? <
What you and everybody else should do is wait until the results of this study are critiqued by other scientists.
Then if it passes muster, we all should wait again to see if the results can be replicated by at least two more careful, double-blind, peer-reviewed studies.
It’s well understood that a study like this one can have many flaws, and for that reason, medical science will almost never jump to a “firm conclusion” on the basis of one single research project.
Cheaper, too. I can never finish a bottle of wine before it goes bad, so I might as well just buy grape juice instead. I’m on a McCann’s oatmeal kick these days too. Great stuff.
And people ask me why I avoid doctors.
Yep, Calcium and Magnesium. Have been taking both for over 20 years. Saved me from a broken leg and/or hip when I slipped on the ice and fell down the steps, I am 68. Short fall of six steps. I think I bounced on the way down, lots of bruises and swelling though.
Occasionally I get muscle cramps in my legs and will take a bit extra Mg.
I learned the hard way to not take more than 1,000 milligrams a day! Stuff’ll go through ya like you-know-what through a goose!
Boniva is not a calcium supplement, nor are other osteoporosis meds Fosamax and Actonel. In fact, when these drugs were clinically tested, the test subjects also took calcium supplements. It’s all very mysterious and I hope someone figures out how to keep osteoporosis under control without killing patients.
I was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis ...and prescribed Actonel. This med has certain side effects including but not limited to jaw necrosis. One is advised not to take it when dental infection is present. I’m seeing my dentist, getting any necessary work completed before taking Actonel.
In the long run, it seems that exercise has the best effect on hearts and bones with the fewest side effects.
And I’m not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV. But I would highly recommend that folks who have concerns about heart attacks, etc do a google on:
cayenne heart
Here you go:
Cayenne Pepper And Heart Health - Is Cayenne A Cure For Heart Disease?
Not everyone gets enough calcium in their diet. I have always detested milk, avoid cheese because of calories. So I have to supplement. I just read an excellent book, Beautiful Bones by Leon Root, MD, a bone surgeon in NY, who claims that very few people get enough calcium to prevent osteoporosis. He lists many ways to supplement by eating high-calcium foods. Practical, easy suggestions, like Ricotta instead of cottage cheese, etc. Low fat and nonfat dairy products have more calcium, which is nice. NONfat powdered milk is a calcium powerhouse and it's easy to toss 1/3 cup into recipes -- cake, muffins, soups etc.
LOL!
You probably have heard of COQ10 enzyme but here is a good link.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coenzyme-q10/NS_patient-coenzymeq10
It works well on angina. I convinced my father to take it after I read an article about Texas wanting to ban sales of it. Well seniors taking it did not want it stopped because it allowed them to do more without the pain. Helped my father too.
Don’t forget the vegetables. Many vegetables are quite high in calcium.
But I’m not sure they are in as bioavailable form as dairy, so it probably makes a difference how you cook them.
Dark leafy greens are also a source of calcium, as are almonds. I don’t drink a lot of milk, but I do eat low-fat yogurt almost every day. It is a powerhouse of calcium, and for breakfast, you can mix it with a half cup of granola, the good whole grains kind, not the fatty sugar laden stuff they mostly sell in the grocery stores. That way, you get your dairy and your grains all at the same time!
“Oh, swell. Now what are we supposed to do? Heart attack vs. being incapacitated with hip fracture when I fall off my horse; nice choice.”
Exactly my reaction. First it was the vioxx the doctor prescribed, now the calcium. Dang, it’s a wonder I haven’t had a heart attack yet. They should do a study about what the primaries do to your heart! lol
Kale, broccoli and other dark greenies have good amounts of calcium, but it’s not easily absorbed. Serve with lemon or vinegar — the acid helps calcium absorption. Of course, one must brush or thoroughly rinse teeth right away so they don’t dissolve too. There’s always something to worry about.
And that's why they call a doctor's work, "practice". ;-)
Yes. yogurt is terrific. One cup of nonfat yogurt, plus one 8-oz glass of calcium-enriched orange juice plus one serving of Total cereal provide almost all the calcium you need in a day. But they should not be consumed together as your bod can only absorb about 500 mg at a time.
Reminds me to go have brekkie right now. 8>)
Some people chew tums all the time, and it has calcium in it as well.
At least we don't see many side effects with that..:)
sw
In the meantime, enjoy life and smile...even through the bad stuff.
The MSM, on the other hand, views each and every report as if it is the definitive, last word on any given topic. What the MSM does not understand is that new facts are very, very hard to come by.
All MSM "science reporters" should be required to subscribe to and read each and every issue of the journal, Current Contents. They would quickly discover two things: one is that they cannot possibly adequately review all the scientific reports as fast as they are generated, and two, for every every report that says X is true there are an equal number of scientific reports which say X is false.
Regular exercise.
Thanks for the ping.
FReebie from BMJ, but you may have to register.
Read this for a completely different take on this same report which also includes a much more detailed summary of the test itself.
Thanks for the links. As some of us suspected, only calcium citrate was given to test subjects, not calcium plus magnesium nor calcium plus Vitamin D.
The drugstore literature accompanying my Actonel (osteoporosis treatment) includes a long detailed ad for OsCal, an otc calcium carbonate supplement. This product was also given to test subjects who tested the efficacy of Actonel. All varieties of OsCal contain Vitamin D. So one wonders what actually improved bone density.
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