Calcium, pneumonia and coffee

Calcium supplements linked to myocardial infarctions

Heart doi:10.1136 heartjn 2011-301345

Calcium supplements approximately double the risk of suffering myocardial infarctions (MI), according to a study that enrolled a total of 23,980 patients age between 35 and 64 years, who did not have a history of major cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Researchers divided patients into four groups (quartiles) based on calcium intake, over, on average, 11 years. Those in the second highest quartile of total dietary calcium intake were 31 per cent less likely to suffer a MI than those in the lowest quartile.

People in the second highest quartile of calcium intake from dairy sources were 32% less likely to suffer a MI than the lowest quartile. However, no significant difference emerged in the highest quartile and dietary calcium did not seem to influence the risk of suffering a stroke or dying from CVD.