Could your calcium supplement be affecting your heart?
A recent study of cardiac patients taking calcium and vitamin D supplements illustrates the importance of making sure your doctor knows everything you’re taking, not just prescription drugs, says Mary Huerter, MD, a cardiac surgeon with Cape Cod Hospital Cardiac Surgery Services.
“We definitely should talk to our doctors about any supplements we are taking, even if it's something as simple as ginkgo or garlic,” she said. “It’s worth having a conversation with your physician about which supplements you are taking and why.”
Calcium supplements are often suggested for bone health, particularly preventing and treating osteoporosis and osteopenia. Vitamin D, often suggested in conjunction with calcium, helps the body to absorb it. The study on calcium and Vitamin D, published this spring by researchers at the Cleveland Clinic, focused on 2,657 patients over age 60 who had mild to moderate aortic stenosis, a condition where calcium build-up narrows the aortic valve, restricting blood flow through the heart. Researchers reported that patients in the study who took calcium and Vitamin D supplements had higher rates of aortic valve replacement and death. The researchers suggested that doctors rethink these supplements for these particular patients.
The research should prompt conversation rather than alarm, said Dr. Huerter, referring to the study as a “snapshot.” More research is needed, she said, adding that medicine is still learning how people’s bodies use or metabolize calcium and how calcium interacts with certain physical conditions.
“Calcium is one of the main components that helps the heart muscle, on a molecular level, to function,” she said.
"It’s still important for patients to tell doctors if they’re on non-prescription medications," said Dr. Huerter. "Taking calcium and Vitamin D can be helpful but supplements are not necessarily benign," she said. “Supplements can have interactions with other medications, so it’s important for us to know as physicians what people are taking on the side.”
For example, she said, patients like those in the study, should have a heightened awareness of whether calcium supplements are helping or hurting.
“I would certainly say people who are active smokers, have a family history of heart disease – premature heart disease, in particular, should be very aware and be having more engaging conversations with their physicians about the types of supplements and how long they need to be on specific [ones].”
One important thing to remember about supplements: They are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“It’s hard to know what’s in some of these over-the-counter supplements,” Dr. Huerter said.
If there is more than one doctor prescribing medication or suggesting supplements, there may need to be a more detailed discussion.
“Sometimes it requires a physician-to-physician conversation,” she said. “We should be giving the same message. If things are confusing, let us know. We are happy to clarify things to ensure we are providing the best care.”
