Calcium and D3 supplementation decreases cancer risk and increases CVD risk

[buddy99]

Full access to this article is behind a pay wall. Nevertheless the reduced article might be interesting for those who take those supplements. Unfortunately it is not quite clear (to me) whether it is the combination or the calcium by itself that has these consequences and what role the D3 plays in either increasing or moderating, if any.

acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326...

[Deb967]

What is CVD?

[buddy99 in reply to Deb967]

Cardio Vascular Disease, pertaining to heart and blood vessel diseases.

[Deb967 in reply to buddy99]

TY

[Deb967 in reply to buddy99]

I have to be on Calcium and Vit D3 due to having Gastric Bypass.

[buddy99 in reply to Deb967]

Absolutely! There are situations where we have to do the risk/benefit calculation. I, too, have to supplement due to two autoimmune diseases that interfere with my nutrient absorption. Sometimes it feels like these often quoted win/win situations are rarer than we think. And science constantly comes up with new stuff that confuses the heck out of me.

[Met00]

This supports the existing evidence that calcium supplementation may contribute to heart disease. Vitamin D is meant to reduce the risk of cancer, but the dose in this study was so low that I'm surprised it made any difference!

[buddy99 in reply to Met00]

I suspect that this is more about calcium than D3 (low dose, as you point out). And it has been established that dietary calcium protects against some cancers. This a quote from a different research: "A decreased risk of colorectal cancer by calcium intake was observed in all sub-sites in men and women". So basically they were really just testing for calcium intake.

[Met00 in reply to buddy99]

Maybe the D3 was to assist calcium absorption?

[pigeonCl-HU in reply to Met00]

True, daily D3 - 400IU, is a ridiculously low dose for drawing any conclusion, one way or the other.

pigeon

[CDreamer]

The Zoe video link I posted about Osteoporosis & nutrition a few days ago echoes these conclusions.

[Rod11]

Think this is why we take Vitamin K to prevent calcium building up in the arteries, sending it to the bones instead?

[proactive in reply to Rod11]

Rod11, That was my understanding as well. Vitamin K ensures calcium is directed to the bones rather than causing calcium plaques in the arteries.

[barani19 in reply to Rod11]

yes. That's right. Vitamin K2-MK7 is critical particularly if you take Calcium and D3 supplements.

[Haz58 in reply to barani19]

I'm on CalcichewD3 but K2 etc has never been mentioned. Should i be taking it?

[barani19 in reply to Haz58]

Please have K2-MK7 along with your Ca, D3. Have a look at the website, vitamink2.com.au/

[ROSModerator Partner in reply to barani19]

Thanks everyone for your comments in this discussion about vitamin K supplements for bone health. We’ve noticed that some people have been saying vitamin K supplements are essential to ensure good bone health. Just to let you know that the current up to date expert-view, based on the research evidence is that healthy eating is the best way to get all the nutrients that your bones need.

You may, of course, choose to take a vitamin K supplement. But our nutritional advisers tells us research hasn’t yet proven that this is useful.

See our fact sheet strwebprdmedia.blob.core.wi... and hear Professor Sue Lanham New in our Bone Matters series youtube.com/watch?v=wBP4L7F...(Not working as expected?) to hear more.

[Met00 in reply to ROSModerator]

Vitamin K2 isn't the same as Vitamin K (K1). While you can get Vitamin K from diet, it's almost impossible to get sufficient K2 from diet, unless you enjoy eating natto (fermented soy beans).

[buddy99 in reply to Met00]

Hahaha! I might be able to eat natto with my eyes covered and a clothespin on my nose. It's an acquired taste for sure. Just had to mention that, knowing the comment is not helpful in any way. Do you enjoy eating natto by any chance? Just curious.

How about other fermented foods? Sauerkraut, kimchi etc?

[Met00 in reply to buddy99]

I've never tried it; it sounds quite disgusting! As far as I'm aware, it's only Natto that has high K2 content. That's why supplementing with K2 is important if I want to ensure sufficient intake.

[josephinius1]

I quit taking calcium mostly because it was just too confusing but also because I did "hear" that it's more calcium than cholesterol that causes plaque in the arteries, and I learned I'm "spilling" calcium in my urine (not sure why, guess there are a few possibilities,) and that calcium supplements can make this worse. Not sure if that affects the heart so much as the kidneys but everything is linked, so...I just decided calcium supplements weren't worth it. I am trying to do better at getting it from food, but even "how much" seems to be controversial. A doctor here (US) told me to get 1500 mg/day (he was aware of my hypercalcueria,) because my bones are so bad, but...I don't know. That's a lot of cheese! Dairy in general (that's the easiest way for ME to do it.)

I also have Hashimotos, and I've just recently concluded that gluten actually does affect me. They often say Dairy is nit good for thyroid issues either, but I'm like, "I LIKE it, and it's how I get calcium...agh!"

It's all so disconcerting and confusing.

Almost like maybe our bodies weren't designed to last as long as they are and breakdown is inevitable or something. You can try to be the "survivor" but your body will outwit you.

I'm still going to try, though; too young to have deteriorated as much as I have.

[MayGodBlessYou in reply to josephinius1]

have you had parathyroid hormone (PTH) checked? i've been reading about it recently. it causes high calcium in the blood (and maybe urine?) and with hyperparathyroidism, i think bone drugs for treatment of OP are excluded except bisphosphonates.

[josephinius1 in reply to MayGodBlessYou]

Yes, parathyroid was in range. Also D levels have been consistently on the higher side; read that will never happen with hyperparathyroidism. 🤔

[MayGodBlessYou in reply to josephinius1]

also, i have thyroid stuff - hyper - bad for bones, so i'm on tablets, which are said to be ok on bones compared to having hyperthyroidism. and also i've heard that synthroid and medication for hypothyroid are harsh on bones - sorry - but also, if choosing between synthroid or natural TH medication, synthetic is more consistent.

[josephinius1 in reply to MayGodBlessYou]

Yes, I've heard hypothyroidism isn't good...so sorry that's on your plate, too. I guess with Hashimotos you can sometimes be hyper, but no doctor type has suggested this might be possible with me. I do have some things going on that seem more consistent with over-medication, though (like the PVCS, now a high ferritin level,) even though my recent labs showed my TSH was high again. I just yesterday switched over to WP thyroid, which was a lot more expensive, so I doubt I'll be able to stay on it. I did read synthetics were more consistent, but I started out on levo, felt good for the first three months, then it was almost like I was back to pre-medicated state in terms of symptoms. Asked my doctor at the time if you could get a "bitter batch" and she said yes. Whether that's true or not, I don't know. But I was also on Naturethroid for a couple years, which they ended up recalling because it had gone off, and I could feel that, too. So I've just kind of decided it's all a crap shoot, and all we can do is manage as best we can.

[MayGodBlessYou in reply to josephinius1]

oh, yes hashimotos's and the whole thyroid thing is a box of dice, andyou are dealing with it. and i'm with a G.p for it (hyper), in my experience, better than with an endo.

p.s i notice my skin improves when i quit milk!, but yeh i like milk so haven't given it up..

soy (milk) bad for thyroid, otherwise i'd substitute with it a lot

[montieth]

I have been taking calcium, D, K2, boron and magnesium separately because it seemed more affordable than some of the bone formulas. This was based on the idea that k2 would protect me from the cardiovascular risks from taking only Calcium. Now I am not sure about taking calcium. Also it is so cumbersome to manage all these pills so I am thinking of going back to a formula like bone up or garden of life just to make it all less confusing and to make sure I get the right balance of nutrients. A friend tells me she takes herbs for bones also so looking into that as well.