Too little calcium can lead to weak bones, but taking supplements to boost calcium levels might lead to troubling side effects in certain people. Doctors sometime prescribe calcium supplements for patients who suffer from weakened, brittle bones or osteoporosis. More common in women than men, osteoporosis or bone loss affects 40 million people in the U.S. according to the National Institutes of Health.
Calcium Loss
Your body continually builds new bone, but after about 30 years of age, you start losing more bone mass than you form. Being a woman, aging, family history and being of either Caucasian or Asian ethnicity are all risk factors that you cannot control. Risk factors that you can control include smoking, drinking in excess, being sedentary and eating a diet low in calcium and vitamin D. Taking medication to regulate hormonal imbalances can help slow bone loss, as can taking calcium supplements if you don't get enough calcium in your diet.
Loss Risks
Loss of bone density leads to fractures when you fall. Spinal problems also result when you lose calcium and bone strength. People with osteoporosis can suffer broken hips and other broken bones after falls, and face reconstructive surgery and lengthy stays in hospitals and nursing facilities. When you become bedridden due to injury, your risk of blood clots increase, and your strength, muscle mass and endurance suffers.
Supplement Risks
Links between calcium supplements and cardiovascular disease due to deposits in blood vessels remain a matter of debate as of date of publication. A 2009 article in "Maturitas" analyzed research conducted in the Kuopio University Hospital in Finland and concluded that calcium supplements, whether taken alone or in complement with vitamin D, seem to increase women's risk for coronary heart disease. In 2010, a meta-analysis published in the "British Medical Journal" concluded that calcium supplements are associated with a modest increase in risk of heart attack. A 2011 analysis published in the "Journal of Bone and Mineral Research" says that a 1,200mg daily dose of calcium does not increase an elderly woman's risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease, or buildup of deposits in blood vessels that can lead to heart disease. (Ref #2) (Ref #3) (Ref #5) (Ref #4)
Considerations
No two patients are alike, so discuss your own health history and current risk factors with your physician. Ask her about all the options you have to improve your bone strength, including changes to diet and lifestyle. Certain medications, such as those that help prevent asthma attacks or seizures, can worsen bone loss, but don't change any drug regimens without instructions from your doctor. You doctor can recommend certain precautions to take at home whether you take supplements or not, including fall prevention and strength building exercises.
References
- National Insititutes of Health: Osteoporosis Overview
- MayoClinic.com; Calcium supplements: A risk factor for heart attack?; Martha Grogan M.D.; October 2010
- "Journal of Bone and Mineral Research"; Calcium Supplementation and the Risks of Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease in Older Women; JR Lewis, et al.; January 2011
- "Maturitas"; Use of Calcium Supplements and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in 52-62-year-old Women; K. Pentti, et al.; May 2009
- "British Medical Journal"; Effect of Calcium Supplements on Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Cardiovascular Events -- Meta-Analysis; MJ Bolland; July 2010
