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Calcium and vitamin D controversies
1Cedars-Sinai Medical Center/UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA. davids@OMCresearch.org
Rheumatic Diseases Clinics of North America
|October 26, 2011
Summary
Vitamin D and calcium are vital for bone health, with current evidence inconclusive on cardiovascular risks from calcium. Further research is needed to explore the potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Bone Metabolism
- Cardiovascular Health
Background:
- Vitamin D and calcium are crucial for maintaining skeletal integrity.
- Extraskeletal effects of these nutrients are subjects of ongoing scientific debate.
- Existing research presents conflicting data regarding calcium supplementation and cardiovascular outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the current evidence on the extraskeletal effects of vitamin D and calcium.
- To assess the validity of concerns linking calcium supplementation to cardiovascular complications.
- To determine the need for revised recommendations on vitamin D and calcium supplementation.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on vitamin D and calcium supplementation.
- Analysis of studies investigating extraskeletal effects, including cardiovascular outcomes.
- Evaluation of the strength and consistency of evidence regarding supplementation benefits and risks.
Main Results:
- Controversies surrounding vitamin D and calcium primarily concern their extraskeletal effects.
- Evidence linking calcium supplementation to cardiovascular issues remains inconclusive.
- Current data does not support altering established supplementation guidelines based on cardiovascular concerns.
Conclusions:
- Vitamin D and calcium are essential for bone health.
- Concerns about calcium and cardiovascular complications are not sufficiently supported by current evidence.
- Further prospective studies are warranted to fully understand the benefits of increased vitamin D supplementation.
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