Calcium is good for us right? New studies are challenging this fact. Preliminary evidence suggests that taking calcium supplements may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke in women who take it for at least 5 years. Currently, calcium supplements are recommended for women who do not get the recommended amount of calcium in their diet. Getting enough calcium is important for increasing bone density and preventing bone fractures.

Prior evidence showed that calcium seemed to improve cholesterol and blood pressure. But now, researchers are considering the possibility that excess calcium could end up lining the arteries and contributing to atherosclerosis. Another possibility is that too much calcium can lower magnesium levels and increase the risk of heart attack.

 Keep in mind that this new data is strictly preliminary and that there is still much research to be done. The studies that were used to come up with this conclusion were not originally designed to look for an increased risk in cardiac disease. Also, women in the study took calcium supplements whether they were getting adequate calcium from their diet or not. Finally, current evidence still points to the fact that taking calcium help prevents fractures. Fractures can be devastating as they greatly contribute to nursing home stays and mortality. Even if the data in this study were true, it would show that among 100 women taking calcium for 5 years, that 2 fractures would be prevented and 1 woman would have a heart attack or stroke.

Until further research is done, don’t overdo it on calcium. Take only what is recommended for you. This means that women over 50 should take 1200 to 1500mg of elemental calcium a day. Be sure to check the label of your calcium supplement to see how much elemental calcium is in each tablet. The bottle may show that it contains 1200mg of calcium carbonate but may only contain 200mg of elemental calcium per tablet. Also remember that the body does not absorb more than 500-600mg of elemental calcium at a time. For this reason, calcium doses should be split up throughout the day. Consider taking 500mg of elemental calcium three times a day. Include calcium from dietary sources in your calcium calculations.