If you don't get enough calcium in your diet, you may be at higher risk for high blood pressure, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Research results are conflicting, however, as to whether taking calcium citrate or other calcium supplements can significantly reduce blood pressure. Calcium citrate interacts with certain types of blood pressure medicine, so consult your doctor before adding the supplements to your health regimen.
Calcium Citrate
Two common forms of calcium supplements are calcium citrate and calcium carbonate, reports the UMMC. Calcium citrate does not contain as much elemental calcium, the amount the body actually absorbs, as calcium carbonate does. However, calcium citrate is useful for people with low stomach acid because other forms of calcium need an acidic environment for good absorption. Elderly individuals and people who take medications that decrease stomach acid may obtain better benefits from calcium citrate. You may want to avoid calcium citrate if you take antacids that contain aluminum, because the combination can increase the amount of aluminum absorbed into the bloodstream. Calcium citrate may be more convenient because you don't need to take it with food for proper absorption, unlike calcium carbonate.
Calcium and Blood Pressure
While some research suggests that increasing calcium intake may slightly reduce blood pressure, other studies did not find this result, according to the UMMC. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, called DASH, study investigated the effects of different eating habits on blood pressure, and the diet including low-fat dairy products showed the greatest decrease in blood pressure, notes the Office of Dietary Supplements. The UMMC cautions that calcium supplements may not have the same effect.
Thiazide Diuretics
If you're taking a thiazide diuretic for high blood pressure, avoid consuming more than 1,500 mg of calcium per day, advises Mayo Clinic emeritus hypertension specialist Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D. The combination can cause a serious health condition known as milk-alkali syndrome, which can lead to calcium deposits in the kidneys and other body tissues. The Food and Nutrition Board has established the recommended dietary allowance of calcium at 1,000 mg per day for women ages 19 to 50 and men ages 19 to 70, and 1,200 mg per day for women ages 51 and over and men ages 71 and over. If you use a thiazide diuretic and want to take calcium citrate supplements, ask your doctor about an appropriate dosage and for a blood test to check your calcium levels.
Other Possible Interactions
Although research results are conflicting, calcium supplements may interact with beta blocker and calcium channel blocker medications, according to the UMMC. Consult your doctor before taking calcium citrate if you use either of these, and check your blood pressure regularly if you add calcium citrate to your health routine.
