In Response To Calcium Critiques

The recent study out of Zurich has gotten people up in arms about their calcium supplementation.  Should we, or shouldn’t we use it?  No one, including those that conducted the study, is refuting the benefits of calcium consumption–both dietary and supplemental–for the health of our bones; but is it hurting our hearts?

The study reported findings of cardiovascular events after following nearly 25,000 participants over an 11-year period of time. The age range of those participating spanned the ages 35-64 years of age, and those participants who did have a heart attack also happened to self-report taking a calcium supplement, either in combination with other nutrients or alone.  The study also listed greater risk–roughly a factor of two–for a cardiac event for those using a calcium supplement alone.
What do we know?

• The study reported a significant number of heart attack sufferers were supplement takers, with an increase in incidence of heart attack for those that were taking a calcium supplement alone.
• That while some participants who did not have a cardiovascular event were also supplement takers, there was a common denominator of supplement use in participants who had experienced a heart attack.
• Those that were supplement takers did not have, based on the report findings, higher incidence of stroke or other cardiovascular events.

“No statistically significant association was found between calcium supplementation and either stroke risk or overall CVD mortality.”

The incidence of MI (myocardial infarction, or heart attack) increased with greater consumption of supplemental calcium, but those that consumed less than the 3^rd quartile of elemental calcium did not have a statically significant risk.

“Further exclusion of supplement users from analyses did not substantially change the risk estimates for total and source-specific dietary calcium intakes”

The study reported it was not designed to evaluate cardiovascular incidence, and therefore only eliminated those participants ages 35-64 that had a cardiovascular event within the first two years of the 11 year study, but didn’t eliminate those that had an elevated cholesterol at baseline, with no cardiovascular event within the first two years of the study.
What else do we know?

• The media didn’t give all the detail for our review.  The media reports (again, the media reports-not the actual study), failed to mention that of the 25,000 participants, MI occurred in less than 400 individuals.
• While this Incidence is higher than the usual 12-16% incidence of MI in the non-hospitalized population, the media failed to tell us that those who reported supplement use, and calcium supplement use on its own, were also more likely to be overweight, of higher average age and have a longer duration or smoking history than those that did not have an MI.  Perhaps needless to say, there is an intimate link between smoking duration, excess weight and heart disease.
• The comparison in the study was to dietary sources of calcium, where as those in the study that self-reported higher levels of dietary calcium, also were reported to be of younger age, physically active and limited smoking/non-smokers on history.

What should supplement takers consider based on this study?

Supplement takers should also be made aware, that taking any nutrient in exclusion of other co-factors or complimentary nutrients does not mimic the element or vitamins natural cellular activity and therefore is not the most healthful way to supplement a healthy diet.

Optimal metabolism can be threatened by taking Calcium in isolation, without the other supporting Nutrients needed for bone formation such as: Magnesium, Zinc, Boron, Phosphorus, Manganese, Copper, Vitamin K, D and Vitamin C. In addition to this number of additional nutrients, it is also critical that they be taken in the correct proportions

Calcium consumption, from both dietary and supplemental sources, is still regarded in the vast majority of the literature and from experts in their field as safe and effective for the enhancing the well being of the patient.  These benefits are not limited to bone health alone.  The consumption of calcium does confer cardiovascular benefits when taken in combination with other synergistic nutrients, in ratios similar to those found in nature or dietary choices.

Supplement takers should consider when choosing their supplements their relative need as it relates to their own diet and lifestyle, activity level and metabolic demand.  The health of their physical and mental environment and the interdependence of nutrients are part of a collective, the sum-total of which can add up to optimal health if the components are properly combined.