A review of calcium supplements and cardiovascular disease risk.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the potential association between calcium supplement use and cardiovascular event risk, focusing on causal inference criteria.
Results Summary
The study found mixed evidence regarding calcium supplements and cardiovascular risk, with some studies suggesting a small increased risk but others showing no detrimental effects. The authors concluded that current evidence is insufficient to change recommendations for calcium supplementation.
Population
Primarily women (based on Women's Health Initiative subgroup analysis) and general populations from epidemiological studies.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
calcium supplement use | increase | adverse cardiovascular events | - | small increase | prompted concern about a potential association with a small increase in the risk | #1 |
calcium from diet or supplements, with or without vitamin D | no change | cardiovascular disease risk | - | no detrimental effect | suggest no detrimental effect | #2 |
calcium supplement use | neutral | adverse cardiovascular outcomes | - | - | little evidence exists for plausible biological mechanisms to link with | #3 |
supplements | increase | optimal bone health | individuals who do not obtain recommended intakes of calcium through dietary sources | - | advocate use to promote optimal bone health | #4 |
A group of academic and industry experts in the fields of nutrition, cardiology, epidemiology, food science, bone health, and integrative medicine examined the data on the relationship between calcium supplement use and risk of cardiovascular events, with an emphasis on 4 of the Bradford Hill criteria for causal inference: strength, consistency, dose-response, and biological plausibility. Results from 2 epidemiological studies and a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials, including a subgroup analysis from the Women's Health Initiative, have prompted concern about a potential association between calcium supplement use and a small increase in the risk of adverse cardiovascular events. However, a number of issues with the studies, such as inadequate compliance with the intervention, use of nontrial calcium supplements, potential bias in event ascertainment, and lack of information on and adjustment for known cardiovascular risk determinants, suggest that bias and confounding cannot be excluded as explanations for the reported associations. Findings from other cohort studies also suggest no detrimental effect of calcium from diet or supplements, with or without vitamin D, on cardiovascular disease risk. In addition, little evidence exists for plausible biological mechanisms to link calcium supplement use with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The authors do not believe that the evidence presented to date regarding the hypothesized relationship between calcium supplement use and increased cardiovascular disease risk is sufficient to warrant a change in the Institute of Medicine recommendations, which advocate use of supplements to promote optimal bone health in individuals who do not obtain recommended intakes of calcium through dietary sources.