Opposite impacts of dietary versus supplemental calcium on cardiovascular health

Commentary on: Li K, Kaaks R, Linseisen J, et al.. Associations of dietary calcium intake and calcium supplementation with myocardial infarction and stroke risk and overall cardiovascular mortality in the Heidelberg cohort of the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition study (EPIC-Heidelberg). Heart 2012;98:920–5. Context Calcium supplementation is widely used to maintain bone health. Growing data suggests that calcium supplementation, but not dietary calcium intake, may harm cardiovascular (CV) health.1 2 There is no randomised controlled trial (RCT) that addressed CV events as primary endpoints and such an RCT is unlikely to be conducted considering ethical issues.3 Methods The Heidelberg prospective cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study data was examined to evaluate the associations of calcium intake (total or separated dairy and non-dairy sources) and calcium supplementation with myocardial infarction (MI), stroke and...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Tags: EBM Prognosis, Clinical trials (epidemiology), Epidemiologic studies, General practice / family medicine, Drugs: cardiovascular system, Stroke, Diet, Ischaemic heart disease Source Type: research