Heart attack risk soared with calcium supplement overuse: Here’s what you need to know

Dr V Mohan, Chairman, Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai, decodes a new study

calcium supplements, heart attack, indian express

Dr Mohan says that the theory is that excess calcium -- from supplements taken over a long period when not needed -- gets deposited in the vessels of the heart. (Pexels)

Can your calcium supplements be hurting you? Long-term use of calcium supplements in those with diabetes can increase the risk of heart disease and deaths due to it, shows a recent study based on data of over 400,000 people from the UK biobank. It shows how habitually taking calcium may increase the risk of death due to cardiovascular events by nearly 60 per cent among those with diabetes.

While the study did not find an increase in risk for those who did not have diabetes, Dr V Mohan, Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai, warns people against consuming calcium — or any other supplements — without the prescription from a doctor. “My professor used to say that expensive supplements lead to the urine becoming more expensive, which was to say that they do not have any benefits unless medically needed. Now, we are seeing the harms of taking supplements such as calcium. People must not take supplements unnecessarily,” he said.

How does calcium affect the heart?

While the mechanism of action is not fully understood, Dr Mohan says that the theory is that excess calcium — from supplements taken over a long period when not needed — gets deposited in the vessels of the heart. “In fact, coronary artery calcium is considered to be one of the key markers to see how healthy one’s heart is,” said Dr Mohan.

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He said that the higher risk among people with diabetes — as shown in the study — could be owing to the fact that they anyway have a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Should women start taking calcium supplements after menopause?

No, if it has not been prescribed for a particular condition. Several over-the-counter calcium tablets are marketed for post-menopausal women to prevent fractures as they start losing bone density. Dr Mohan says one should only take it if it has been prescribed after a bone mineral density test.

“You see, oestrogen has a protective effect on the heart leading to lower risk of heart diseases in women before menopause. However, after menopause as the oestrogen levels decline they have the same risk as men of getting heart diseases. So, calcium supplements should not be taken at this age if not needed,” said Dr Mohan.

Should I stop taking calcium supplements even if I have diseases like osteoporosis that make me prone to fractures?

Only on prescription. Calcium supplements may be required during pregnancy and lactation, by those who are lactose intolerant and cannot have milk and those who have digestive diseases that decrease the ability of the body to absorb calcium. “As much as possible, calcium — as well as other supplements — should be consumed through foods. In the natural form, it’s not really harmful,” said Dr Mohan.

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How can I get the calcium I need from foods?

Dr Mohan says men and women can get their daily recommended intake of calcium just through milk. “One glass of milk has nearly 500 mg of calcium and should be sufficient,” he said. Other than that calcium can be found in other dairy products such as cheese, green or leafy vegetables such as kale and okra, soya, and fish that can be consumed with the bones.

Anonna Dutt

Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country’s space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University’s Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor’s Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More

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