Calcium supplements can cause heart attacks
5.0Limited
evidence
evidence
The Claim
Some believe that taking calcium supplements increases the risk of cardiovascular events like heart attacks, due to concerns about calcium deposits in arteries.
Origin
This concern emerged from observational studies and some randomized controlled trials in the late 2000s that suggested a possible link between high calcium intake from supplements and cardiovascular risk.
What Science Says
The evidence is mixed. Some studies, like a 2010 BMJ meta-analysis, suggested a slight increase in cardiovascular events with calcium supplementation, but subsequent reviews, including a 2016 analysis in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, found no significant association. The overall consensus is that more research is needed to fully understand the relationship.
Verdict
Partially True
Sources
- PMID:33530332 Calcium Supplements and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials.
- PMID:37181938 Calcium Supplements and Risk of CVD: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials.
- PMID:37743221 Association Between Calcium Supplementation and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.