calcium supplementation & heart health

[JudithSil]

This research is making headlines in the last few days. It suggests that calcium supplementation is detrimental to heart health. However, the researchers excluded studies in which concurrent Vitamin D was given, and the news stories don't mention that.

It's in the British Medical Journal, July 29, 2010. The full text is free at:

http://tinyurl.com/2dfvgtx

(That's the tiny URL for:
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/341/jul29_1/c3691?maxtoshow=&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=calcium&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=date&resourcetype=HWCIT . You can also go to www.bjm.com and search for "calcium")

[jodi f.]

Judith, I looked at the abstract (not the full study), and the first thing that comes to mind is this: Magnesium.

Everyone's so focused on calcium for bone strength, and everyone seems to want to know what kind of calcium supplement to take, but I don't believe calcium deficiencies are as prevalent as are magnesium. Some people suggest up to 90% of us are magnesium deficient (I recommend Mildred Seelig's book, The Magnesium Factor). I've had symptoms since childhood that I've figured out can be completely eliminated by dietary + supplemental magnesium (muscle twitches, heart arrhythmias, tight diaphragm leading to inability to catch my breath). Stress and caffeine deplete magnesium, and magnesium deficiency leads to further stress which depletes more magnesium. IV magnesium is used in heart attack victims to prevent further damage. And look at all the people who are using Natural Calm to help them sleep at night.

Calcium helps our muscles contract. Magnesium helps them relax. The heart is a muscle.

I realize it may not be as simple as just magnesium, but all of our minerals need to be in balance for optimal health. It doesn't come as a surprise that bad things happen when we overdo high-dose isolated nutrients.

[PamelaM]

Hi Jodi, Is there a 'brand' of calcium supplement that you can recommend? I have osteoporosis and was prescribed Fozomax which I don't take. Instead I have been supplementing with 1500 mg of calcium with mag, zinc, boron & K (all part of the supplement). I want to be sure that I'm getting the best possible quality Calcium supplement and there are so many out there. In addition I eat leafy greens & seaweed, spirulina, etc.  What can you recommend?

[jodi f.]

Sounds like your diet is plant- and booster food-based, and if your supplement is high quality, it might be fine. That's a lot of calcium in it, though. Remember, the daily intake should include food, too. Weight bearing exercise is also incredibly important. Even with weak bones, strong musculature can do a lot to prevent falls; plus exercise increases bone strength.

My mother has osteoporosis. She's very thin and was on corticosteroids for many years for Crohn's disease. She does NOT take Fosamax. She exercises daily and uses Right Foods "Daily Bone Care". She has taken a couple of very hard falls -- one on concrete, one on tile -- and hasn't broken anything. I think the exercise plays a big part in that. I'm not mentioning these as specific recommendations to you, because I don't know anything about you, but I think this serves as an example of food and lifestyle exerting beneficial effects.

BTW, how do you know you have osteoporosis? Bone scan? They only test density, not porosity. You can have strong bones that aren't dense. Also, if you're a small person, the test isn't accurate. It'll read you as osteoporotic, though you may not be. There's a lot to learn about this particular diagnosis and how it's determined.

If you truly have osteoporosis, you can also consider bioidentical hormones. Progesterone and testosterone could possibly be of great benefit, but you'd need to consult with a doctor for that, and obviously one who isn't in Fosamax/Boniva mode.

[blujay]

On top of what Jodi recommends (all excellent). Have you considered one of the best sources of calcium likely is right in your fridge and you usually just throw it out...yup, eggshells. Think about what it takes for a chicken to make an egg, it has to lay down high concentrations of calcium and other trace minerals, proteins, hormones in order to make the shell. Which is why the mineral supplements and dirt is so high in their diets. All these components from the eggshell are very bio-available when you eat it too. Don't forget to eat the yolk and white also! They are incredibly nourishing and help to increase the mineral absorption from the rest of your diet (not necessarily at the same time)

I personally buy the best pastured eggs, save the shells by rinsing them and toasting them lightly in the oven then crumble them into a jar. I save them up until I get a good amount, then grind them to a powder and either add them to smoothies baked goods or put them into "00" caps and take them as a supplement. This is likely the best source and likely the cheapest out there!

Here is some research for you...

(I wouldn't fully trust this as its from a company selling supplements) http://www.membrell.com/1999/11/short-term-effects-of-egg-shell-powder-enriched-dairy-products-on-bone-mineral-density/

http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FBJN%2FBJN87_03%2FS0007114502000570a.pdf&code=68cfc34bb6e6d22fd298f403f4d38dc7

Here is a decent article on some important bone health factors
http://newhope360.com/bone-health/vitamin-d-loses-its-place-sun

Just remember to include your pursuit for bone health in a holistic health context, meaning look at all the other factors that contribute to your health and not just focus on "Fixing" the one area of concern.

Health and blessings,
jay