Cardiovascular safety of calcium supplements

Abstract

Sufficient calcium intake is important for the bone health and the prevention of osteoporosis. Due to insufficient content of calcium in food, many elderly patients take calcium supplements. In the recent years results of some randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses have suggested that calcium supplements can increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Since these results have not been confirmed by many other studies, level of scientific evidence is not strong enough to make a definitive conclusion about cardiovascular safety of calcium supplements. On the other hand, all studies that evaluated the influence of dietary calcium on the cardiovascular health reviled no increase in the cardiovascular risk. Even more, some studies suggested that dietary calcium can decrease cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Thus, patients should be advised to take recommended daily dose of calcium in the form of dietary calcium. If this can not be achieved, a calcium supplement can be prescribed. However, daily calcium intake should not exceed 1200-1500 mg since higher doses may increase the risk of adverse reactions without additional benefit on the bone health.