Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group

Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). Heart beats in a normal heart begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spread through the heart and cause contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood.

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Heart, Blood & Circulation
/ Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group

calcium supplements

pamdidi
pamdidi
I wonder if the plaque I have is from the calcium supplements I took for so many years and years! and not cholesterol.
pacyetep
pacyetep
Studies say "no" Christine:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20551843


petey
SeanOpositive
SeanOpositive
This topic is actually a hot area of research right now. New data suggest that calcium supplementation without sufficient vitamin D and vitamin K leads to build up in tissues (e.g., blood vessel walls) rather than bone. Vits D and K help support the specific integration of calcium in to bone.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23719555

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24125401

and several high impact studies showing no association:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24155106
pacyetep
pacyetep
Sean: Actually, the newest study (of the 3 you cited) is 2014, the last one, that demonstrated NO affect of calcium supplementation on coronary calcium, and even a beneficial effect at high doses.

The other two were 2013. The first one doesn't address calcium supplementation, only the effect of K1 on circulating coronary calcium.

The second one doesn't say anything conclusive about calcium supplementation's effect. It only presents both sides and concludes that since calcium supplements have a minimal effect on fractures in post menopausal women, that its use should be reassessed.

I still see the answer as NO.

petey
SeanOpositive
SeanOpositive
Sure sure. I'm just telling you that there is a lot of ongoing research (unpublished) regarding the retrospective or prospective (even better) analysis of Vit K and Vit D status in studies of the effects of dietary calcium on arterial calcification. Stay tuned. it could explain the disagreements in the published literature to date.

-Sean