Additives with calcium can harm the heart?

A new scientific study showed shocking results. It turns out that dietary calcium in the form of dietary supplements can have a harmful effect on the heart. The authors of the study believe that consumers should think about and revise their diet. Nobody will argue with the fact that it is much better to consume calcium from foods than from synthetic tablets.

Are Vitamin Supplements Always Useful?

When it comes to using various vitamin complexes and mineral supplements, in particular calcium preparations, many people believe that the best can not be the enemy of good. But in fact, an excess of calcium in the body can cause serious damage to the health of the cardiovascular system. This is indicated by the lead author of the study, a fellow at the Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Erin Michos. Our expert is the deputy director of preventive cardiology in the center of Ciccarone, specializing in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Statistics of our days

Currently, about 43 percent of American adults take calcium supplements. Data provided by the National Institutes of Health. But if we consider separate categories, then we can reveal an obvious record holder. More than half of women over the age of 60 take calcium additionally in order to reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Analysis of previous medical tests for 10 years

A new study collected data from various medical trials over a ten-year period. In total, 2,700 case histories of participants aged 45 to 85 were affected by the scientists. Each of the patients participated in a detailed questionnaire, talking about their daily diet and food supplements, if they were taken.

Additional tests

Then the participants passed a standard test for calculating the calcification of the arteries (one of the main conditions for the risk of coronary heart disease). Then, additional factors affecting the health of the heart were considered. For example, how often participants in the study devoted free time to sports or what their body weight is. Then the statistics considered the total intake of calcium by man and then from which sources (natural or synthetic) the microelement was supplied.

In the final stage, those who received a valuable mineral in the form of food additives were examined in detail. After scrupulous calculations and general analysis, it was found that people taking calcium supplements significantly increased the risk of plaque formation in the arteries. And this means that their chances of having cardiovascular diseases, in comparison with people who do not take synthetic calcium, have increased significantly.

Conclusions of the research group

Researchers from the group Erin Michos are concerned about the entrainment of part of the population with various vitamin complexes. And if calcium supplements provoke the formation of plaques in the arteries, then it's time to stop buying another jar in the pharmacy. Experts insist on the benefits of obtaining calcium from food. In any case, the use of vitamin complexes should not take place without consulting a doctor-therapist. And if vitamins are released in pharmacies without a prescription, this does not mean that they can be taken without restrictions.

Products with a high calcium content are beneficial

If calcium supplements are a danger to the heart, calcium-enriched foods, in contrast, stand up for the protection of a vital organ. A trace element is found in large quantities in milk and dairy products, in broccoli, oranges and legumes. Why does the body react differently to synthetic supplements and diet? Probably, it's all about calcium salts and even in dosage. If with the products a person consumes calcium gradually and evenly throughout the day, then one pill taken in the morning instantly charges the body with a daily dose. Most likely, the body is not able to cope with such a load.

Information for all who wish to preserve the health of the heart

Dr. Michos summarizes: "Based on the findings, we can tell our patients that there is no harm from a diet enriched with calcium. As you can see, such nutrition is even useful for the heart. However, if the patient believes that he does not have enough calcium in his food, he should discuss this with his attending physician. It is necessary to confirm the fear of a person, and in case of need to establish the correct dosage. "

And here's what Dr. Susan Steinbaum, a practitioner at the Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, says: "The benefits of calcium supplements have long been questioned, especially when it comes to the development of cardiovascular disease. It is obvious that the excess of calcium, which is often provoked by the intake of vitamins, is very dangerous for health. "

Not everything that is sold in the pharmacy is completely safe

Independent experts agree with the inability to track safe products in pharmacies that are dispensed without a doctor's prescription. This fully applies to vitamin complexes. Do not blindly trust all that lies on the chemist's counter. First of all, it is necessary to weigh the pros and cons, and also to compare the potential risks. Do you have heart disease in your family history? In this case, a comprehensive examination of the vascular condition should be carried out, and, if necessary, an alternative route should be found.

Calcium supplements can provoke the deposition of kidney stones

And here is another authoritative opinion. Dr. Howard Sellinger, a professor at the University of Medicine in North Haven, Connecticut, suggested that calcium supplements could also increase the patient's chances of depositing kidney stones. He himself recommends that his patients take calcium in kind. It is found in leafy green vegetables and dairy products. Remember that coronary heart disease every year kills more than 7 million people around the world.