Truth About Calcium Supplementation

From an article in Life Extension magazine dated November 2010, I feel better about the calcium supplements I take. On July 30th, 2010 a meta-analysis published in the British Journal Of Medicine reported that calcium supplementation was associated with a significant increase in risk for heart attack. According to the Life Extension Magazine article and comment by Steven Joyal MD, the published analysis was not accurate. In addition four of the contributing authors of the meta-analysis were INVOLVED IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL DEVELOPMENT TRIALS INVOLVING CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTATION, INCLUDING WYETH, MISSION PHARMACAL, SHIRE PHARMACEUTICALS AND NYCOMED. The article goes on to say that in a biased and horrifically flawed analysis, a group of doctors came to the conclusion that calcium supplements increase heart attack risk by 27%.

OMITTED from the media reports were critical facts such as the exclusion of people who took vitamin D, magnesium or other nutrients typically found in bone protection formulations. In other words those calcium-supplemented study subjects (who the mainstream claims suffered higher heart attack rates) would have been seriously deficient in vitamin D and magnesium which are two essential nutrients that protect against heart attack.

The doctors who completed this analysis also conveniently OMITTED major clinical trials showing those with HIGHER calcium intake had significant;y LOWER cardiovascular rates. Vitamin K also plays an important part in keeping heart healthy.

There are four major flaws in the UK analysis per Steven Joyal MD:

Alarming levels of vitamin D deficiency and exclusion of trial date involving vitamin D3 supplementation in combination with calcium supplements
Exclusion of several major trials that showed significant reductions in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality with calcium intake
Lack of consistency with other studies showing reduction in biomarkers of cardiovascular risk with calcium supplementation.
Lack of appreciation for the critical role of vitamin K in bone and cardiovascular health

As for me, I will continue to take calcium supplementation along with magnesium and vitamin D3.

Dan

Genesis 1:29 KJV
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

Here is a link for food sources of vitamin K and the role that it plays in our cardiovascular health:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=112

EXCERPTS:

vitamin K

What can high-vitamin K foods do for you?

• Allow your blood to clot normally
• Help protect your bones from fracture
• Help prevent postmenopausal bone loss
• Help prevent calcification of your arteries
• Provide possible protection against liver and prostate cancer

What events can indicate a need for more high-vitamin K foods?

• Excessive bleeding, including heavy menstrual bleeding, gum bleeding, bleeding within the digestive tract, or nosebleeding
• Easy bruising
• Problems with calcification of the blood vessels or heart valves
• Problems with bone fracture or bone weakening

Excellent sources of vitamin K include parsley, kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, Swiss chard, green beans, asparagus, broccoli, kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, collard greens, thyme, romaine lettuce, sage, oregano, cabbage, celery, sea vegetables, cucumber, leeks, cauliflower, tomatoes, and blueberries.

World's Healthiest Foods rich in
vitamin K

FoodCals%Daily Value

Kale361327.6%

Spinach411110.6%

Collard Greens491045%

Swiss Chard35715.9%

Turnip Greens29661.6%

Mustard Greens21524.1%

Brussels Sprouts38194.7%

Parsley3155.8%

Romaine Lettuce16120.4%

Broccoli31115.5%

For serving size for specific foods, see Nutrient Rating Chart