USA
Today (5/24, Lloyd) reports, "Taking a calcium supplement to help
prevent bones from thinning puts people at a greater risk for heart attacks,
says a report out today in the journal Heart." The study involved about "24,000
people between the ages of 35 and 64."
The Los
Angeles Times (5/24, Maugh) reports that the researchers found "that
those who had a moderate amount of calcium in their diet (820 milligrams daily)
had a 31% lower risk of having a heart attack than those in the bottom 25% of
calcium consumption, but those with a daily intake of more than 1100 mg did not
have a lower risk. There was no evidence that any level of calcium intake in the
diet affected stroke risk." However, "when the team considered supplements, they
found that those who took calcium supplements regularly were 86% more likely to
have a heart attack than those who used no supplements." The researchers
reported that "for those who took only calcium supplements, and no others, the
risk doubled."
In a piece taken from Health Magazine, the CNN
(5/24) "The Chart" blog reports, "Only the use of calcium supplements, and not
overall calcium intake, was associated with an increased risk of heart attack.
In fact, people who consumed higher amounts of calcium from foods, such as milk
and other dairy, tended to have a lower risk of heart attacks than people who
consumed less."
On its website, CBS
News (5/24) reports, "The reasons for the differing risks aren't
entirely clear, but researchers suggested the sudden burst of calcium into the
system from supplements may be part of the problem."
Many experts, however, expressed skepticism.
For instance, on the MSNBC
(5/24) "Vitals" blog, Robert Bazell, NBC Chief Science and Health Correspondent
writes that "this research...is just the type of experiment that often scares
people unnecessarily and gives the science of epidemiology a bad name."
According to Bazell, "the study was set up to look at cancer risk and these
scientists are 'mining' the data to look for heart disease outcomes. What the
researchers unearth is a confusing set of conclusions."
HealthDay
(5/24, Reinberg) reports that Dr. Robert Recker, director of the Osteoporosis
Research Center at Creighton University and president of the National
Osteoporosis Foundation, said, "I am doubtful of these findings." According to
Dr. Recker, "It's hard to understand why calcium in the diet can reduce the risk
of heart attack, but supplements increase the risk." Also covering the story are
the UK's Press
Association (5/24) and BBC
News (5/24, Gallagher).
Posted by: Steven Almany M.D.
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