Day: August 22, 2010

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Calcium as a Supplement – Corrections and Retractions!

Thoracic aorta

Image via Wikipedia

Hello Readers,

My good friend, cardiologist Helme Silvet MD, alerted me to research published 7/29/10 in the British Journal of Medicine stating that Calcium may increase risk of myocardial infarction – i.e. heart attack.

What is already known on this topic

Calcium supplements are commonly taken by older people for skeletal health
A randomised placebo controlled trial suggested calcium supplements might increase the risk of myocardial infarction and cardiovascularevents

What this study adds

A meta-analysis of trials totalling 12 000 participants found that calcium supplements increase the risk of myocardial infarction by about 30%
Given the modest benefits of calcium supplements on bone density and fracture prevention, a reassessment of the role of calcium supplementsin the management of osteoporosis is warranted

–BMJ 2010;341:c3691

Pretty big deal so please take that off of our recipe to being a friend to yourself.

Onward and upward my friends!  Be a friend to yourself!