Post by kickingfrog on Mar 10, 2013 11:58:01 GMT
Mayo Clinic
I've read that calcium supplements may increase the risk of heart attack. Is this true?
Answer
from Martha Grogan, M.D.
(cardiologist)
Some doctors think it's possible that taking calcium supplements may increase your risk of a heart attack.
Other doctors believe that calcium supplements have little or no effect on your heart attack risk.
There's concern about calcium supplements and heart attack risk because many women take calcium supplements to treat or prevent bone diseases such as osteoporosis
It's thought that the calcium in supplements could make its way into fatty plaques in your arteries — a condition called atherosclerosis — causing those plaques to harden and increase your risk of heart disease.
More research is needed before doctors know the effect calcium supplements may have on your heart attack risk
The calcium supplements that some doctors are concerned about are those that contain only calcium — not supplements that combine calcium and vitamin D or multivitamin supplements.
Current recommendations regarding calcium supplements for people who have, or have risk factors for, osteoporosis haven't changed.
As with any health issue, it's important to talk to your doctor to determine what's best in your case.
www.mayoclinic.com/health/calcium-supplements/AN01928
I've read that calcium supplements may increase the risk of heart attack. Is this true?
Answer
from Martha Grogan, M.D.
(cardiologist)
Some doctors think it's possible that taking calcium supplements may increase your risk of a heart attack.
Other doctors believe that calcium supplements have little or no effect on your heart attack risk.
There's concern about calcium supplements and heart attack risk because many women take calcium supplements to treat or prevent bone diseases such as osteoporosis
It's thought that the calcium in supplements could make its way into fatty plaques in your arteries — a condition called atherosclerosis — causing those plaques to harden and increase your risk of heart disease.
More research is needed before doctors know the effect calcium supplements may have on your heart attack risk
The calcium supplements that some doctors are concerned about are those that contain only calcium — not supplements that combine calcium and vitamin D or multivitamin supplements.
Current recommendations regarding calcium supplements for people who have, or have risk factors for, osteoporosis haven't changed.
As with any health issue, it's important to talk to your doctor to determine what's best in your case.
www.mayoclinic.com/health/calcium-supplements/AN01928