So... is calcium +/- vitamin D supplement good for you? Try asking that. Likely you will hear, Yes!
Is it really?
1. Fractures aren't overly common. And if you have a hard fall (off the stairs, etc), a fracture doesn't mean you have weak bones.
2. Research have shown small benefit of calcium supplementation. (ex. Tang) Benefit is certainly not large for everyone to blindly supplement calcium +/- vitamin D. Out of 63 patients taking supplement for 3.5 years, we will be able to prevent 1 fracture...
In the News! Calcium causes MI, stroke and cardiovascular problems.
Calcium supplements alone seen with increased MI risk. Risk is small. A review by Bolland et al showed significant MI risk increased looking at 7 different RCT 1999-2007. Interestingly, none of the analyzed RCTs (all 7 of them) showed a significant increase in risk. Although mechanisms are still under speculation, this risk can't be ignored as insignificant. Quoting from Bolland, treating 1000 people for 5 years with calcium supplement, there might be an additional 14 MI seen, but save 26 fractures.
Some study have shown that by taking calcium with vitamin D, we can avoid this risk. Others disagree.
More investigation is underway and we have to work with what we have.
Is it really?
1. Fractures aren't overly common. And if you have a hard fall (off the stairs, etc), a fracture doesn't mean you have weak bones.
2. Research have shown small benefit of calcium supplementation. (ex. Tang) Benefit is certainly not large for everyone to blindly supplement calcium +/- vitamin D. Out of 63 patients taking supplement for 3.5 years, we will be able to prevent 1 fracture...
In the News! Calcium causes MI, stroke and cardiovascular problems.
Calcium supplements alone seen with increased MI risk. Risk is small. A review by Bolland et al showed significant MI risk increased looking at 7 different RCT 1999-2007. Interestingly, none of the analyzed RCTs (all 7 of them) showed a significant increase in risk. Although mechanisms are still under speculation, this risk can't be ignored as insignificant. Quoting from Bolland, treating 1000 people for 5 years with calcium supplement, there might be an additional 14 MI seen, but save 26 fractures.
Some study have shown that by taking calcium with vitamin D, we can avoid this risk. Others disagree.
More investigation is underway and we have to work with what we have.
________________________________
Am I to stop taking supplement then?
1st question to ask:
Do you have osteoporosis? or at risk?
Don't know?
Easy trick - Age - body mass (kg) = ____; <0=less than 5% risk; 0-20=15-20% risk.
If you are just not at risk... then it's totally your call. You can stop, continue or switch to Vitamin D only.
Current scientific data can't make that decision for you. NOTE: don't confused Calcium +/- vitamin D with vitamin D supplement alone. Vitamin D supplements is an entirely different topic. All these risk and benefit talk is for calcium.
Studies found here:
Bolland http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c3691
Tang BM. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17720017
1st question to ask:
Do you have osteoporosis? or at risk?
Don't know?
Easy trick - Age - body mass (kg) = ____; <0=less than 5% risk; 0-20=15-20% risk.
If you are just not at risk... then it's totally your call. You can stop, continue or switch to Vitamin D only.
Current scientific data can't make that decision for you. NOTE: don't confused Calcium +/- vitamin D with vitamin D supplement alone. Vitamin D supplements is an entirely different topic. All these risk and benefit talk is for calcium.
Studies found here:
Bolland http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c3691
Tang BM. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17720017
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