Calcium Supplements & Coronary Disease

More Americans take calcium supplements than any other mineral, typically to promote bone health or ease indigestion. In addition to providing the solid matrix for your bones, calcium has many other functions and may contribute to certain medical disorders. Although calcium supplements do not cause coronary disease, conflicting research reports question whether they may increase the risk of heart attacks.

Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease is a form of atherosclerosis. With this condition, fat deposits form in the arteries that carry blood to your heart tissue. The deposits harden by accumulating calcium leeched from your bloodstream. The calcified deposits, or plaques, impede blood flow to your heart and may eventually lead to a heart attack due to inadequate oxygen delivery to the muscle tissue. Calcification is part of the natural progression of coronary artery disease.

A Potential Link

In a January 2008 article published in journal "BMJ," Dr. Mark Bolland and colleagues surprised the medical community by reporting an association between calcium supplementation and a modestly increased risk of heart attack among postmenopausal women. These findings raised concerns about whether the prevalent use of calcium supplements to prevent osteoporosis may cause more potential harm than benefit. Bolland and colleagues published two additional articles in "BMJ" in July 2010 and April 2011 that involved analysis of several studies among men and women taking calcium supplements. Both articles concluded that there is a small but significant increase in the risk of heart attack among people taking calcium supplements, compared to those not taking the mineral.

Controversy

Although the work of Bolland and colleagues stands, not all studies examining the potential link between calcium supplementation and heart disease have come to the same conclusion. In the March 2010 issue of the "Annuals of Internal Medicine," Dr. Lu Wang and colleagues report that they found no significant association between calcium supplements and the risk of cardiovascular disease events, such as a heart attack or death due to heart disease, among participants in 17 studies conducted from 1966 to 2009. An earlier study by Dr. Wael Al-Delaimy and colleagues published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in April 2003 also found no association between dietary or supplemental calcium intake and the risk of heart disease among men.

Is Supplemental Calcium Right for You?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer regarding whether you should take calcium supplements. Make this decision in collaboration with your doctor, taking into account your personal medical history and risk factors for both osteoporosis and coronary disease. Consult with your doctor before taking supplemental calcium or any other nutritional supplement to assure it is safe for you.