In 2011, a British Medical Journal meta-analysis sounded the alarm that “Risks outweigh benefits for calcium supplements.”[1] The study indicates that calcium supplements do more harm than good. They cause more cardiovascular events than the number of fractures they prevent.
The seven authors of the study expressed concern that with so many people taking calcium supplements, “Even a small increase in incidence of cardiovascular disease could translate into a large burden of disease in the population.” They even go so far as to “suggest that a reassessment of the role of calcium supplements in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis is warranted.
The effectiveness and benefits of calcium in preventing and treating osteoporosis are enormously impaired in the absence of adequate levels of magnesium. Magnesium keeps calcium dissolved in the blood. Too much calcium along with too little magnesium can cause some forms of arthritis, kidney stones, osteoporosis and calcification of the arteries, leading to heart attack and cardiovascular disease.[2]
References
1. Bolland, MJ, A Grey, A Avenell, GD Gamble, and IR Reid. 2011. “Calcium Supplements with or without Vitamin D and Risk of Cardiovascular Events: Reanalysis of the Women’s Health Initiative Limited Access Dataset and Meta-Analysis.” Epub BMJ (Apr 19): 342:d2040.
2. National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. 2011. Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Calcium. “Calcium Intakes and Status.”
Older Publications
Click here for calcium references that have become outdated or may have been superseded by newer science-based publications. Nonetheless, they remain relevant and considered critical information resources. Click on the name of the author to read the publication.