Calcium is an important mineral for maintaining strong bones. But if you’re considering taking a calcium supplement, there are some risks you should know about.
According to the National Institutes of Health, about 43% of Americans take a supplement that includes calcium.
“Just using calcium supplements was independently associated with this increased risk of developing Atherosclerosis,” said Dr. Erin Michos, a preventive cardiologist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “For individuals who are already meeting their recommended daily allowance, there’s no evidence that more is better, even for bone health or fracture reduction,” said Michos.“I recommend for my patients, the safest thing to do is to try to get their calcium through their diet. We think that the body processes calcium very differently when it comes from food sources versus supplements,” Michos said.