2013-02-06-Study-Calcium-supplements-linked-to-higher-risk-of-heart-attacks-for-men_ST_U.xml
^$^Guys, take note: Popping large amounts of calcium supplements may be harmful to your heart.
New research shows that a high intake of calcium from supplements is correlated with an increased risk of death from heart disease, such as heart attacks, for men, but not for women. This does not apply to foods rich in calcium.
The findings come at a time when many older people in the USA -- 50% of older men and 70% of older women in one study -- use calcium supplements for bone health.
Scientists with the National Cancer Institute and several other large research establishments reviewed data on more than 388,000 people, ages 50 to 71, who were part of a diet and health study in six states and two metropolitan areas from 1995 to 1996. They were followed for 12 years.
Compared with non-users, men consuming more than 1,000 milligrams a day of calcium from supplements at the beginning of the study had an increased risk of death from heart disease, say findings online Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine.
The study's lead author, Qian Xiao of the National Cancer Institute, cautioned that the work wasn't designed to determine cause and effect.
"Although we observed an increased risk of death from heart disease in men, we cannot say for sure that it was a result of using supplements containing calcium," she says. "We need more studies to clarify this possible relationship and the underlying mechanisms."
Taylor Wallace, senior director of scientific and regulatory affairs for the Council for Responsible Nutrition, an industry group, says the study "conflicts with the majority of well-established evidence on the safety and benefits of calcium supplementation," showing they are "beneficial to bone health and pose no risk to cardiovascular health."
Current recommendations
Daily calcium intake by age group, in milligrams:
All adults 19-50 1,000
Men 51-70 1,000
Women 51+ 1,200
Men 71+ 1,200
Source: Institute of Medicine,
USA TODAY research
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