Warning on common calcium supplements and heart problems
At CANCERactive we have never recommended common calcium supplementation. In research there is a little evidence that it may help prevent colon cancer, but there is even research that suggests calcium may drive cancer.
Calcium supplementation is often recommended by Doctors to prevent osteoporosis. As regular readers will know, we have consistently argued that the whole area of osteoporosis is being poorly handled. Recommendations to women to take more calcium, drink cows’ milk, take HRT are worrisome. HRT has been linked to increased risk of cancer in several studies, as has cows’ dairy. There are more progesterone receptor sites on bone than oestrogen sites. Osteoporosis can be prevented by sunshine and vitamin D plus a magnesium-rich diet, as both D and magnesium are essential for calcium to be taken up by bones.
You will get more than enough calcium from one daily helping of ’greens’. If you have to supplement there are plenty of ’green’ supplements and organic, natural calcium sources. Weight bearing exercise helps.
The new research showed that common supplements can almost double the risk of a heart attack and should be "taken with caution" and only for medical reasons, such as to prevent bone thinning. (Oh dear!) The latest research contradicts the commonly held belief that consuming extra calcium can somehow help prevent heart disease or a stroke.
The findings are based on a study of the calcium intake of 23,980 men and women in Heidelberg, Germany, (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).
Rults stated that people who used calcium supplements regularly were 86% more likely to suffer a heart attack than those who did not.
Those who obtained their calcium exclusively from supplements were 2.7 times more likely than non-users to experience a heart attack.