Can Calcium pill cause calcification of heart valve

[cp172]

I was recently told to start taking calcium tablets (over the counter) by my back surgeon. Could this increase risk of calcification of heart valves? I have a 1.5 year old Abbott Epic mitral valve. Your thoughts? I plan to ask cardiologist at August month visit.

Thanks,

 

[pellicle]

Your thoughts?

Calcium is required by the body, and its a well developed system for uptake of what it needs, storage of what it can, and disposal of what it doesn't need. That said I believe that the body is best served by a healthy diet, nothing I read about supplements supports the idea we should regularly take them.

This study (one of a host of studies) shows that often without an underlying reason to supplement the diet that they can cause more harm than good

https://heart.bmj.com/content/108/12/964

Calcium±vitamin D supplementation was associated with a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality (absolute rate (AR)=43.0/1000 person-years; HR=1.31, 95% CI (1.07 to 1.62); p=0.009), CV mortality (AR=13.7/1000 person-years; HR=2.0, 95% CI (1.31 to 3.07); p=0.001) and AVR (AR=88.2/1000 person-years; HR=1.48, 95% CI (1.24 to 1.78); p<0.001). Any supplementation was not associated with longitudinal change in AS parameters in a linear mixed-effects model.​

Conclusions Supplemental calcium with or without vitamin D is associated with lower survival and greater AVR in elderly patients with mild-moderate AS.​

I'd do some reading and ask yourself why you are intending to take the supplements. Consult with your GP on this too.

 

[Paleowoman]

Calcium supplements have been linked to increased heart attack risk and to calcification of heart valves.

Most calcium supplements are calcium carbonate (chalk) or calcium citrate. Neither are anything like the calcium which occurs in food. I have osteoporosis - I have never been advised to take calcium supplements by my rhumatologist or GP. I get calcium from food as it's so easy to obtain that way. It's not just dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yogurt which are rich in calcium, but it's also in fish, such as sardines and canned salmon which contain calcium rich bones which can be eaten. It's in leafy green vegetables, particulary kale, brocolli, cabbage, spinach. It's in seeds, eg sesame from which tahini is made. And it's in nuts, almonds are a good source. Avoid foods fortified with calcium as they just have calcium of the sort in calcium supplements added.

It's important for calcium absorption to also make sure you have enough vitamin D, either from the sun or from vitamin D3 supplements. Vitamin K2 is also important as it helps put calcium in the bones rather than in the arteries.

 

[pellicle]

Vitamin K2 is also important as it helps put calcium in the bones rather than in the arteries.

agreed, and even those on warfarin (perhaps especially?) can benefit from them. So for the benefit of other readers be aware that it may influence your INR so (shock) test regularly and then dose the diet. (as I'm sure paleo knows this well)

 

[cp172]

I appreciate the responses. Guess I will focus on eating calcium rich foods until I have a conversation with my cardiologist.