Calcium supplements - the latest advice is DON’T take them!

[janeroar]

There’s increasing evidence about calcium supplements and evidence that they cause colon polyps and that the calcium ends up in arteries rather than bones and therefore best avoided.

In this article they recommend getting calcium from your diet and exercise -

‘Multiple studies have found that there’s little to no benefit to taking calcium supplements for the prevention of hip fractures. On the other hand, recent studies have linked calcium supplements with an increased risk of colon polyps (small growths in the large intestine that can become cancerous) and kidney stones, which are hard masses usually formed in the kidneys from an accumulation of calcium and other substances. Additionally, a 2016 study by Michos and her colleagues suggested that calcium supplements may increase the risk of calcium buildup in the heart’s arteries.’

Source -

hopkinsmedicine.org/health/....

greygoose

[greygoose]

Good article but just two points I would like to make:

Good dietary sources of calcium include:

Almonds

Oranges

Dried figs

Soybeans

Garbanzo, white and pinto beans

Low-fat dairy such as milk and yogurt

Leafy green vegetables such as kale and spinach

1 Obviously, as hypos, it's best we avoid the soybeans! (Even if not hypo I would say avoid the soybeans!)

2 Why low-fat dairy, for goodness sake? The body needs fat and dairy is a good way to get it. Full fat dairy is also nicer, because the flavour is in the fat - that being natures way of getting us to eat it!

[janeroar in reply to greygoose]

Yes I agree low fat food isn’t what we have evolved to eat. Fat is good for us.

[bantam12 in reply to janeroar]

Fat isn’t good for everyone, we all have individual needs, fat is oh so very bad for me.

[Rainbow-Lover in reply to janeroar]

Depends what sort of fat really

[milupa]

Does it make sense to mention the importance of Vitamin D and K7 in this context?

[janeroar in reply to milupa]

Absolutely. Also adding in some magnesium

[greygoose in reply to milupa]

Vit K2-MK7

Yes, if your vit D is low your calcium is probably going to be low, too. Taking vit D and magnesium increases absorption of calcium from food. I was surprised they didn't mention that. Vit K2 makes sure the calcium gets into the teeth and bones.

And, magnesium is far more important for bones than calcium. But doctors have been brain-washed where calcium is concerned and thing that all you have to do to cure/avoid osteoporosis is over-dose on calcium.

[bantam12 in reply to greygoose]

Vitd can be low but calcium can be high if there’s a parathyroid problem, hence the importance of testing before supplementing.

[greygoose in reply to bantam12]

Oh, yes, agreed. But we weren't really talking about parathyroid problems. Just calcium supplements in general.

[Rainbow-Lover]

The importance of good levels of Vitamin C to assist absorption of calcium cannot be overstated.