Calcium Supplements: Think Twice

Recently, I saw a health male taking a calcium supplement where I told him to not take it. That same day, a timely study came out that reinforces why I advise men not to take a calcium supplement in JAMA. The National Institutes of Health study has closely followed 400,000 men and women from 1995. Reviewing the data over 12 years of follow-up, men who took more than 1,000 milligrams (mg) of daily supplemental calcium were 20% more likely to succumb to heart disease than those who did not take calcium supplements.

While it’s not a prospective trial that provides the strongest proof (more on that later), it is consistent with several other studies over the years that showed healthy men who take calcium supplements, do more damage than good to their heart and body. So if you’re a man who does not have osteoporosis, do not take a calcium dietary supplement. (Ugh, a double negative) But instead, get it from natural dietary sources.

And remember, Tums and Rolaids are calcium supplements. So if you suffer from GERD or acid reflux, talk to your concierge doctor about alternative treatment.

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