Guidelines: Calcium Intake Is Not Associated With Cardiovascular Risk

Consuming 2000 to 2500 mg of calcium a day does not pose a risk to cardiovascular (CV) health in most healthy adults, according to a new guideline from the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) and the American Society for Preventive Cardiology (ASPC).

The NOF and ASPC created a panel of experts to update the 2009 US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality evidence report on CV disease outcomes and end points.
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Because calcium is needed for optimal bone health, calcium supplements are recommended for individuals who do not consume appropriate amounts in their diet. However, evidence regarding the effect of calcium intake on CV disease is conflicting.

To determine the effects of dietary and supplemental calcium, the panel evaluated current randomized trials and prospective cohort and nested case-control studies and graded the strength of evidence.1

Their overall conclusion was that calcium intake within “tolerable” levels is not associated with CV disease risk in generally health adults.

“The NOF and ASPC adopt the position that there is moderate-quality evidence (B level) that calcium with or without vitamin D intake from food or supplements has no relationship (beneficial or harmful) with the risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, mortality, or all-cause mortality in generally healthy adults at this time,” the panel recommended.

“In light of the evidence available to date, calcium intake from food and supplements that does not exceed the tolerable upper level of intake (defined by the National Academy of Medicine as 2000 to 2500 mg/d) should be considered safe from a cardiovascular standpoint.”2

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

  1. Chung M, Tang AM, Fu Z, Wang DD, Newberry SJ. Calcium intake and cardiovascular disease risk: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis [published online October 25, 2016]. Ann Intern Med. doi:10.7326/M16-1165.
  2. Kopecky SL, Bauer DC, Gulati M, et al. Lack of evidence linking calcium with or without vitamin D supplementation to cardiovascular disease in generally healthy adults: a clinical guideline from the National Osteoporosis Foundation and the American Society for Preventive Cardiology [published online October 25, 2016]. Ann Intern Med. doi:10.7326/M16-1743.