Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 16, 2026
Estrogen-Like Effect of Bazi Bushen Capsule in Ovariectomized Rats
Published on: April 7, 2023
Acute effects of calcium supplements on blood pressure: randomised, crossover trial in postmenopausal women
E O Billington1,2, S M Bristow3, G D Gamble1
1Department of Medicine, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland Mail Centre 1142, Auckland, New Zealand.
Insights
Calcium supplements may increase cardiovascular risk by affecting blood pressure. In postmenopausal women, calcium citrate intake reduced the post-meal drop in systolic blood pressure, a finding that warrants further cardiovascular risk investigation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Nutritional Science
- Gerontology
Background:
- Calcium supplements are linked to increased cardiovascular risk, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
- Previous research indicated that calcium supplements may attenuate blood pressure reduction in older women.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the acute effects of calcium supplements on blood pressure in postmenopausal women.
- To confirm previous findings on calcium's impact on blood pressure regulation.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, controlled, crossover trial involving 40 healthy postmenopausal women (mean age 71).
- Participants received either 1g of calcium citrate or a placebo on two separate occasions.
- Blood pressure and serum calcium levels were measured at baseline and at 2, 4, and 6 hours post-intervention.
Main Results:
- Calcium supplementation significantly increased both ionized and total serum calcium concentrations compared to placebo.
- Systolic blood pressure reduction was significantly smaller following calcium intake versus placebo.
- The reduction in systolic blood pressure was attenuated by 6-9 mmHg at 4-6 hours after calcium supplementation.
Conclusions:
- Calcium supplements attenuate the post-breakfast reduction in systolic blood pressure in postmenopausal women.
- These findings suggest a potential mechanism linking calcium supplements to cardiovascular risk.
- Further research is needed to determine if these blood pressure changes impact long-term cardiovascular risk.
Abstract:
Calcium supplements appear to increase cardiovascular risk, but the mechanism is unknown. We investigated the acute effects of calcium supplements on blood pressure in postmenopausal women. The reduction in systolic blood pressure was smaller after calcium compared with the placebo in the hours following dosing.
Introduction:
Calcium supplements appear to be associated with increased cardiovascular risk; however, the mechanism of this is uncertain. We previously reported that blood pressure declined over a day in older women, and that this reduction was smaller following a calcium supplement. To confirm this finding, we investigated the acute effects of calcium supplements on blood pressure.
Methods:
This was a randomised controlled crossover trial in 40 healthy postmenopausal women (mean age 71 years and BMI 27.2 kg/m2). Women attended on two occasions, with visits separated by ≥7 days. At each visit, they received either 1 g of calcium as citrate, or placebo. Blood pressure and serum calcium concentrations were measured immediately before, and 2, 4 and 6 h after each intervention.
Results:
Ionised and total calcium concentrations increased after calcium (p < 0.0001 versus placebo). Systolic blood pressure decreased after both calcium and placebo, but significantly less so after calcium (p = 0.02). The reduction in systolic blood pressure from baseline was smaller after calcium compared with placebo by 6 mmHg at 4 h (p = 0.036) and by 9 mmHg at 6 h (p = 0.002). The reduction in diastolic blood pressure was similar after calcium and placebo.
Conclusions:
These findings are consistent with those of our previous trial and indicate that the use of calcium supplements in postmenopausal women attenuates the post-breakfast reduction in systolic blood pressure by around 6-9 mmHg. Whether these changes in blood pressure influence cardiovascular risk requires further study.
More Related Videos
07:20Author Spotlight: Integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine with Modern Pharmacology and Genomics for Assessing Postmenopausal Osteoporosis in Mice
Published on: August 23, 2024
06:18An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause
Published on: August 13, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:18Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of Calcium Channel Blockers
01:17Hormones and Bone Tissue
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
01:21Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis
01:28Factors affecting Blood pressure
Physiological Factors:
01:30Alterations in Blood Pressure
Hypertension (High blood pressure)
Hypertension occurs when blood pressure readings consistently exceed the normal range. It is diagnosed when systolic blood pressure (the top number, indicating pressure while the heart...
01:25Antianginal Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers and Ranolazine
CCBs, a diverse class that includes dihydropyridines (nifedipine) and diphenylalkylamines (verapamil and diltiazem), exert their effect by blocking calcium channels in cardiac and smooth muscle cells. This...