Calcium Supplements and Cardiovascular Disease

Background: Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (double-blind, placebo-controlled RCTs) have reported controversial findings regarding the associations between calcium supplements on the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between them. Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and the bibliographies of relevant articles for double-blind, placebo-controlled RCTs in November, 2020. Relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risk of cardiovascular disease were calculated using a random effects model. The main outcomes were CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), and cerebrovascular disease. Results: A total of 13 double-blind, placebo-controlled RCTs (n = 28,935 participants in an intervention group and 14,243 in a control group)) were included in the final analysis. Calcium supplements significantly increased the risk of CVD (RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.06–1.25], I2 = 0.0%, n = 14) and CHD (RR 1.16, 95% CI 1.05–1.28], I2 = 0.0%, n = 9) in double-blind, placebo-controlled RCTs, specifically in healthy postmenopausal women. In the subgroup meta-analysis, dietary calcium intake of 700–1000 mg per day or supplementary calcium intake of 1000 mg per day significantly increased the risk of CVD and CHD. Conclusions: The current meta-analysis found that calcium supplements increased a risk of CVD by about 15% in healthy postmenopausal women.

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Subgroup analysis for the risk of cardiovascular disease with calcium supplements

BoneKEy Reports ◽

10.1038/bonekey.2013.27 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Loretta T Radford ◽

Mark J Bolland ◽

Greg D Gamble ◽

Andrew Grey ◽

Ian R Reid

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Subgroup Analysis ◽

Calcium Supplements

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The Joint Effects of Diet and Dietary Supplements in Relation to Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease over a 10-Year Follow-Up: A Longitudinal Study of 69,990 Participants in Australia

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13030944 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 944

Author(s):

Xiaoyue Xu ◽

Zumin Shi ◽

Gang Liu ◽

Dennis Chang ◽

Sally C. Inglis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Fish Oil ◽

Lower Incidence ◽

Lower Risk ◽

Healthy Diet ◽

Oil Consumption ◽

Calcium Supplements ◽

Unhealthy Diet

It is unknown whether a healthy diet or unhealthy diet combined with specific supplements may jointly contribute to incidence of obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We included 69,990 participants from the 45 and Up Study who completed both baseline (2006–2009) and follow-up (2012–2015) surveys. We found that compared to participants with a long-term healthy diet and no supplement consumption, those with a long-term healthy diet combined with multivitamins and minerals (MVM) or fish oil consumption were associated with a lower incidence of CVD (p < 0.001); whilst those with an unhealthy diet and no MVM or fish oil consumption were associated with a higher risk of obesity (p < 0.05). Compared to participants with a long-term healthy diet and no calcium consumption, the combination of a long-term healthy diet and calcium consumption was linked to a lower risk of CVD (IRR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.78; 0.96). In conclusion, a long-term healthy diet combined with MVM or fish oil was associated with a lower incidence of CVD. Participants who maintained a healthy diet and used calcium supplements were associated with a lower incidence of obesity. However, these associations were not found among those with an unhealthy diet, despite taking similar supplements.

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