Calcium Supplements May Double The Risk Of Having A Heart Attack

No surprises there then – those who know about nutrition recommend that calcium is always taken with magnesium. They compete to get in the body. One of calciums many actions is to increase muscle tone, whereas magnesium helps relax them. Physiologically it is a magnesium plug on the outside of a nerve cell wall, which stops all the calcium pouring into the cell and hyperexciting it. A correct ratio of about 2-3 calcium to 1 magnesium is important for bone and muscle health and other aspects of physiology. For a information on quality calcium-magneisum supplement Cal Apatite with Magnesium, supplied by Back-in-Action Chiropractic Clinic in Preston, please click here. This supplement provides the correct balance of calcium to magnesium, in a form which is more easily absorbed and in large enough amounts that will have some benefit.

Like everything too much or too little is potentially damaging. Too much magnesium itself should be avoided with kidney problems and there is increased risk of stones if there the diet is also full of things like chocolate and spinach. Magnesium seems to play a role in helping maintain good blood sugar levels,  is important in regulating muscle tone and is likely to be low in people waking up between 3 and 5 am and being unable to get back to sleep.

Calcium supplements, are often recommended to elderly people and post-menopausal women to prevent bone thinning, which can have tragic consequences of increased risk of fracture. However a recent German study has found that it may double the risk of having a heart attack.

While there are various theoretcial mechanisms by which supplementing calcium may cause problems, we believe not taking it with enough magnesium is unwise. From our view the problem may have been much more serious consequences had the majority of calcium only supplements been provided in a form that were more absorbable.

However the researchers involved and other experts commenting on their work have warned that calcium supplements should be  “taken with caution”.

Though previous studies linked higher calcium intake with a reduction of heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity and Type 2 diabetes; the new research points to a vital difference between dietary calcium from sources such as milk, cheese, greens and kale, and supplements. Our understanding at Back-in-Action is that natural foods are more likely to have a better balance of minerals, so you would not be loading up with too much of one.

What should be noted is that any mineral whether from foods or supplements, is best absorbed by the intestine where the digested food is at its most acidic. So if your digestive system is not working well because you are stressed then you’re probably not absorbing your minerals well and this would have consequences for your health. Interestingly our nutrition lecturer used to emphasise that most (he claimed 95% of) people who think they have high stomache acid, actually have low stomache acid and often try and lower it further.

The researchers in the heart attack study checked 23,980 German men and women aged 35 to 64 taking. They were taking part in a study called the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. Over a period of 11 years, a total of 354 heart attacks, 260 strokes and 267 associated deaths were recorded.

Participants whose diets included a moderate intake of calcium – around 820 milligrams (mg) daily – from all sources had a 31% lower heart attack risk than those with the lowest intake. But no significant benefit was seen when calcium intakes rose to more than 1,100 mg per day.

The picture changed for the worse when the scientists focused on supplements. People taking supplements that included calcium were 86% more likely to suffer a heart attack than those taking no supplements.

There has been some criticism of the study from Dr Carrie Ruxton, from the Health Supplements Information Service, which is funded by an association representing supplement manufacturers. She pointed out that calcium intakes were only measured once, and no attempt was made to observe the effect of modifying them or make comparisons with a “dummy” placebo supplement.

She said: “Vitamin and mineral supplements were never intended to treat chronic health conditions. Instead, their role is to help people meet recommended nutrient intakes. According to the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey, women consume only 740mg of calcium per day from food sources on average.”

For more information please contact Louis throught the clinic. You can send an e-mail to reception@back-in-action.com. Thanks.

From the Preston Chiropractor Team
Getting You Back in Action & Enjoying Your Life Again
Serving the people of Preston and surrounding areas including Southport and Lytham St Annes

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.