Can Calcium Supplements Raise Your Risk of Heart Disease? A Cardiologist Explains
Key takeaways:
Calcium is a mineral that’s important for many of the body’s functions, including bone and heart health. But it’s best to get your daily dose of calcium from food.
Some studies have linked calcium supplements to heart problems, like heart attacks. It’s possible that calcium supplements can damage your blood vessels.
If you take calcium supplements, talk with your primary care professional about your risk for heart disease. They can help you figure out if supplements are right for you.
Table of contents
Calcium is a mineral that’s especially important for your skeletal system. In fact, more than 99% of the calcium in your body is stored in your bones and teeth. Calcium also supports many of the normal functions of your body.
Most adults should get at least 1,000 mg of calcium each day for good bone health. You can usually get that from your diet. You might also get as much as 400 mg of calcium from one calcium carbonate tablet (Tums), which is often used for acid reflux. And many people take calcium supplements daily.
Recent research suggests that high doses of calcium supplements might be harmful to your heart. That includes antacids. Here, we’ll talk about why that could be a problem, and what questions you might want to ask your cardiologist or primary care professional.
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How does calcium affect my heart?
Calcium is important for normal muscle function, including your heart muscle. Calcium enters the muscle cells in your heart during every heartbeat. This helps control your heart rhythm. Calcium is also involved in helping the heart muscle pump blood to the rest of the body.
Too much or too little calcium can cause abnormal electrical signals. This can lead to irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia). But dangerously high or low levels are uncommon. That’s because your kidneys are usually able to regulate your levels.
Does calcium cause heart problems?
There’s evidence that high doses of calcium supplements may raise the risk of heart problems, including heart attacks.
First, a little background. High cholesterol levels can cause cholesterol plaque to build up in your heart. You can also get plaque if you have other risk factors for heart disease. That can happen even if your cholesterol levels are normal. Over time, this plaque can become hardened and calcified. That’s sometimes called “hardening of the arteries.” And if you get a coronary artery calcium test (CAC), you may be able to see these areas of buildup. The higher your score, the more plaque you have.
But calcium in your heart arteries doesn’t usually mean that you’re getting too much calcium. It might not be connected to your calcium intake at all. Or it could be related to where that calcium is coming from.
What do the studies say about the effect of calcium supplements on the heart?
Scientists are still studying the possible link between calcium supplements and heart disease. But it’s important to know that there’s a difference between calcium supplements and calcium from food. Foods that are rich in calcium are generally good for your heart. But calcium supplements may not be.
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A 2016 study of more than 5,000 adults looked at how much calcium they got from their diet and from supplements. They checked a CAC test (that calcium score we just mentioned) at the beginning of the study. Ten years later, about half of the people got another CAC test. People who got the most calcium from the foods they ate had a lower risk for heart problems. But those who took supplements were more likely to show signs of heart damage.
Other studies report similar concerns. In one 2020 study, women who took the supplements were more likely to get calcifications in their aorta. Another study from 2021 looked at the heart arteries of men and women, and found more calcification in people who took supplements.
A study of aortic valve stenosis — another type of heart disease — found that supplements seemed to make that worse over time. And a study of women with cerebrovascular disease (blood vessel disease of the brain) were more likely to develop dementia if they took calcium supplements.
One study of more than 60,000 women found that the risk for heart disease rose when total calcium intake was over 1,400 mg per day. Women whose diets were in this higher range were a little more likely to get heart problems. But for those who used supplements, the risk was more than double.
Not all researchers have found the same problems. For example, a 2016 analysis of 27 older studies reported that calcium didn’t seem to raise the risk for heart disease. But none of those studies were designed to look at the effects of calcium on the heart. And there were differences in the way these studies looked at diet and calcium supplements. A 2020 review of 42 studies and a 2021 review of 15 studies found that supplements did seem to be harmful to the heart. So not all scientists agree on the matter.
Many people take vitamin D along with calcium supplements. There’s some evidence that taking calcium supplements along with vitamin D might be less likely to cause trouble. But another study found no difference. So more research is needed.
So why might calcium supplements be harmful? When you take a supplement, your blood calcium levels rise. These slightly abnormal levels might damage the lining of your arteries. That may lead to calcification. Or it might be the type of calcium in supplements that’s harmful. But there’s still more work to be done before we fully understand how supplements affect the heart
Is the risk different in men and women?
Calcium is important for bone health for both men and women. As you get older you’re more likely to get osteoporosis, or thinning of your bones. This happens earlier in life for most women compared with men. And it tends to be worse for women. That’s one reason women may choose to take calcium supplements.
Most studies looking at calcium supplements focus on women. This is because women are more likely to take calcium than men. So there’s not a lot of research on whether supplements can affect men’s hearts differently. One study found that supplements seemed to cause harm in men but not women. But others have found that men and women have a similar risk.
Who should be careful about taking calcium supplements?
The evidence that calcium supplements might harm your heart is growing. But it remains controversial. For most people, it’s best to get the calcium you need from the food you eat.
Check with your primary care professional before starting a calcium supplement. Some people might be more likely to have side effects. That includes people with chronic kidney disease and people with a history of kidney stones. Calcium supplements can also cause constipation.
Your healthcare professional might also order blood work to be sure that your levels are normal. There are some uncommon conditions that cause high levels of calcium.
Is it OK to take calcium supplements if I have a history of heart disease?
Calcium is important for your bone health. But for most people, food is the best way to boost your calcium. Supplements don’t help your bones in the same way as food.
Getting enough calcium in your diet may help prevent heart disease. But as we mentioned above, it’s possible that supplements may raise your risk for heart problems.
The bottom line
Calcium supports many of your body’s functions. That includes your bone health, muscle contraction, and heart health. Your body is designed to use the calcium that you get from the foods you eat. Some research suggests that calcium supplements may lead to heart and blood vessel problems. But scientists are still working to understand this risk. It’s important to talk with a healthcare professional before starting a calcium supplement. This will help you learn how much calcium you need, and whether you need a supplement at all.
Why trust our experts?
References
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