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Calcium supplementation and the risks of atherosclerotic vascular disease in older women: results of a 5-year RCT and a 4.5-year follow-up.

Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
January 1, 2011
Joshua R Lewis et al. (5 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine whether calcium supplementation increases the risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease in elderly women.

Results Summary

The study found no increased risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease mortality or hospitalization in women taking calcium supplements. Further analysis suggested calcium may reduce risk in patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease.

Population

1460 women aged 75.1 ± 2.7 years at baseline, recruited from the general population.

Effective Dosage

1200 mg of calcium carbonate daily

Duration

5-year RCT followed by 4.5 years of posttrial follow-up (total 9.5 years)

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (5)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
calcium supplementation
increase
atherosclerotic vascular disease
older women
-
may increase the risk
#1
calcium carbonate
no change
death or first-time hospitalization from atherosclerotic vascular disease
1460 women aged 75.1 ± 2.7 years at baseline
multivariate-adjusted HR = 0.938, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.690-1.275
did not have a higher risk
#2
calcium supplementation
no change
death or first-time hospitalization from atherosclerotic vascular disease
1460 women aged 75.1 ± 2.7 years at baseline
multivariate-adjusted HR = 0.919, 95% CI 0.737-1.146
did not have a higher risk
#3
calcium supplementation
decrease
hospitalization and mortality
patients with preexisting atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
-
may reduce the risk
#4
calcium supplementation of 1200 mg daily
no change
atherosclerotic vascular disease
elderly women
-
does not significantly increase the risk
#5
Abstract

Concern has been expressed that calcium supplementation, a key intervention for preventing osteoporotic fracture in older women, may increase the risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease. To evaluate the risk further, an examination of complete verified atherosclerotic vascular hospitalization and mortality data from a 5-year randomized, controlled trial (RCT) of calcium carbonate and 4.5 years of posttrial follow-up was undertaken. This study used data from a published 5-year randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial [Calcium Intake Fracture Outcome Study (CAIFOS)]. The participants were 1460 women aged 75.1 ± 2.7 years at baseline (1998) recruited from the general population and randomized to receive 1200 mg of calcium carbonate daily or an identical placebo. All hospital admission and deaths during the 5-year study and the 4.5-year follow-up were derived from the Western Australian Data Linkage Service (WADLS). Hazard ratios (HRs) for the combined endpoint of atherosclerotic vascular mortality or first hospitalization were calculated using prespecified intention-to-treat and per-protocol models. The intervention group that received calcium supplementation did not have a higher risk of death or first-time hospitalization from atherosclerotic vascular disease in either the 5-year RCT [multivariate-adjusted HR = 0.938, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.690-1.275] or during the 9.5 years of observational study (multivariate-adjusted HR = 0.919, 95% CI 0.737-1.146). Further analysis suggested that calcium supplementation may reduce the risk of hospitalization and mortality in patients with preexisting atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This trial provides compelling evidence that calcium supplementation of 1200 mg daily does not significantly increase the risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease in elderly women.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AgedAtherosclerosisAustraliaCalciumDietary SupplementsFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHospitalizationHumansPlacebosProportional Hazards ModelsRisk Factors
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety85
Efficacy75/10
Quality90/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations138
Citations/Year9.9
Relative Citation Ratio4.68
NIH Percentile92.3%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score1.64
Normalized Score0.82
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