UK NEWS

HEALTH PILLS' HEART ATTACK DANGER

The health pill can increase the risk of heart attacks

Friday July 30,2010

By Victoria Fletcher, Health Editor

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A POPULAR dietary supplement taken by more than a million Britons can increase the risk of heart attacks, a disturbing report revealed last night.

Scientists have found that people are 30 per cent more likely to have a heart attack if they take calcium pills regularly.

Authors of the research are so concerned that they have called for the pills’ widespread use in preventing serious conditions such as osteoporosis to be reconsidered. They advise that calcium, which helps build strong bones and teeth, is better gained naturally through food.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, the scientists conclude: “a reassessment of the role of calcium supplements in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis is warranted.”

The experts believe the pills may lead to hardening of the arteries which can cause heart attacks. They said: “Calcium levels have been positively associated with an increased incidence of heart attack in large observational studies. “Ingestion of equivalent doses of calcium from dairy products has a much smaller effect on blood calcium levels than calcium supplements.”

Doctors recommend that women who have been through the menopause take between 800mg and 1200 mg of the supplement every day to reduce their risk of their bones thinning, known as osteoporosis.

About one in three women and one in 12 men will suffer from osteoporosis at some point in their lifetime and more than three million have been diagnosed with the condition. Last night experts advised people not to stop taking the pills, which can be bought over the counter or on prescription, but to seek advice from their doctor.

Judy O’Sullivan, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: “We need to be cautious because none of the studies were designed to look specifically at the relationship between calcium supplements and the risk of heart attack.

“However, the research should not be ignored. Any new guidelines on the prevention of fractures in those most vulnerable to them should take this type of analysis into account. Anyone who has been advised by their doctor to take calcium supplements shouldn’t stop because of this research alone.”

Previous studies have produced conflicting results on whether calcium supplements can protect against heart problems or make them worse. The latest study aimed to answer this by analysing 15 studies that looked at rates of heart attacks, strokes and death in people taking the pills.

Scientists reviewed 11 studies involving 12,000 patients. Those on calcium supplement took at least 500mg a day. Teams from the Universities of Auckland and Aberdeen found those taking calcium supplements were 30 per cent more likely to have a heart attack than those who did not.

This equated to 166 patients on calcium supplements having a heart attack compared to 130 heart attacks among those who were not. According to the Food Standards Agency, adults need 700mg of calcium a day, which should come from foods like milk, cheese and vegetables.

The latest study excluded patients who were also taking Vitamin D supplements, necessary for the body to absorb calcium. Expert Dr Claire Bowring said: “If you get all the calcium you need from your diet, a supplement will not be necessary. If you are unable to get enough, supplementation may be warranted.”

Carrie Ruxton of the Health Supplements Information Service, which is funded by an association representing supplement manufacturers, said: “Calcium is an essential mineral for the health of the bones and the nervous system. Ensuring adequate intake is vital.”

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DEATH...!!!!

30.07.10, 1:33pm

Well, this article has cheered me up ! NOT. I've been taking calcium pills for 15 years because of osteoporosis. Despite coming from an age of free school milk, doing LOTS of exercise (running etc) and taking lots of dairy products every day, I still got osteoporosis. The pills have helped the situation but now I learn I'm going to keel over any minute with a heart attack. Ah well...... Adcal tablet anyone??

• Posted by: jb47 • Report Comment

ONE OF THE FUNCTIONS OF BONES IS TO STORE CALCIUM ALONG WITH OTHER MINERALS AND VITAMINS

30.07.10, 7:41am

Calcium should be ingested from early life to ensure healthy bones into old age. Not much point in taking calcium supplements when arteries are already hardening and absorbtion into the bloodstream is difficult and restricted.

If your are young start NOW
Look after your body in order for it to look after you later in life
If you are elderly then I suggest walking to improve blood flow. Keep moving. Keep walking every day.

• Posted by: marigold • Report Comment

THE SCIENTISTS STATED THAT..

30.07.10, 1:28am

...calcium from dairy products has a much smaller effect on blood calcium levels than calcium supplements.”

Quite so, when you consider that in ANY pasteurised dairy product, 90% of the phosphotase enzyme required for calcium absorption, has been DESTROYED!

Having said that, the study obviously did NOT take into account the well documented causes of arterial hardening/narrowing.

These causes are high blood homocysteine, from insuffiicient vitamins B6, B12, and folates; high blood lipoprotein alpha, from insufficient anti-oxidants, such as selenium, vitamin D3, l-cysteine amino acid etc; and high blood tryglcerides from too many carbs, especially sugars and fruit, (as advised in daft food pyramids, and food groups), and alcohol.

That omission made this study meaningless.

That then leaves one question..what really was the purpose of the study?

Scare tactics against natural supplements must always be viewed with suspicion. ie the faked Danish beta-carotene study that resuled in headlines screaming Beta-carotene Causes Cancer.

Beta carotene, b-c, is not in any cancer prevention pathway, H R Clark PhD ND 2007.

Only minute amounts, 50mgs daily, of useless syntheitic b-c, was given, and that to .elderly Danish smokers, whose health was already compromised! By chance, the group on the b-c, had more lung cancer deaths. Surprise, surprise.

Nautral b-c, in larger doses, has multiple health benefits, but the scare tactic would have many stop supplementing with b-c..

http://www.vitamins-nutrition.org/vitamins/beta-carotene.html

Do you see now why I dont trust these scientists scare tactics..

A populace with much less osteoporosis is good for the individual, but not so for those profiting from side-effect loaded, expensive meds.

http://www.nof.org/patientinfo/medications.htm#Medications_Prevention_Treatment