I've read that calcium supplements may increase the risk of heart attacks. Is this true?

Answer From Rekha Mankad, M.D.

There is some evidence that calcium supplements can increase the risk of heart attacks. Calcium supplements are usually taken to treat or prevent bone disease, such as osteoporosis.

A review of studies found that calcium supplements increased the risk of heart disease, particularly in healthy, postmenopausal women. But other studies have said calcium supplements don't increase the risk.

More research is needed to know how calcium supplements affect a person's overall heart attack risk. What is known is that calcium from food sources, such as dairy products and leafy green vegetables, isn't a concern.

Taking calcium — with vitamin D — does provide a benefit for those who have too little calcium or bone loss. Ask your doctor if a calcium supplement is right for you.

With

Rekha Mankad, M.D.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

March 23, 2023 See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. angina treatment: stents drugs lifestyle changes — what's best?
  2. Anxiety disorders
  3. blood tests for heart disease
  4. Can vitamins help prevent a heart attack?
  5. Cardiac catheterization
  6. cardiopulmonary resuscitation (cpr): first aid
  7. Chelation therapy for heart disease: Does it work?
  8. Chest X-rays
  9. Coronary angiogram
  10. Coronary artery bypass surgery
  11. Coronary artery disease
  12. Coronary artery disease FAQs
  13. Coronary artery disease: Angioplasty or bypass surgery?
  14. daily aspirin therapy: understand the benefits and risks
  15. Echocardiogram
  16. Ejection fraction: What does it measure?
  17. Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
  18. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
  19. Fasting diet: Can it improve my heart health?
  20. Flu Shot Prevents Heart Attack
  21. flu shots: especially important if you have heart disease
  22. Four Steps to Heart Health
  23. Grass-fed beef
  24. Healthy Heart for Life!
  25. Heart attack
  26. Heart attack prevention: Should I avoid secondhand smoke?
  27. Heart Attack Timing
  28. heart attack: first aid
  29. Heart disease
  30. heart disease in women: understand symptoms and risk factors
  31. heartburn or heart attack: when to worry
  32. heart-healthy diet: 8 steps to prevent heart disease
  33. HIL Article English
  34. HIL Article English
  35. HIL Article English
  36. Interval Training
  37. niacin to improve cholesterol numbers
  38. NSAIDs: Do they increase my risk of heart attack and stroke?
  39. nuts and your heart: eating nuts for heart health
  40. omega-3 in fish: how eating fish helps your heart
  41. Omega-6 fatty acids
  42. Polypill: Does it treat heart disease?
  43. Pseudoaneurysm: What causes it?
  44. red wine and resveratrol: good for your heart?
  45. Silent heart attack
  46. strategies to prevent heart disease
  47. Stress test
  48. Symptom Checker
  49. Video: Heart and circulatory system
  50. What is coronary artery disease? A Mayo Clinic cardiologist explains.