According to the trials published up to now, we know that the excess of calcium favours vascular calcifications, increases mortality in patients with renal failure and generates an infarction risk in non-cardiopathic old women. In order to further verify the link between excess of calcium and cardiovascular risks, a meta-analysis has been performed on 15 randomized, double-blinded trials, where participants (averagely over 40 years of age) have received a daily supplementation of calcium (at least 500 mg) or placebo. Analyzing the data from over 8000 subjects, among whom 77% were women, it was found that, after a period of 3.6 years, 143 infarctions have occurred in the group treated with calcium and 111 in the one treated with placebo. The difference has statistical significance. There has been no differences, instead, as to stroke incidence or deaths.
The supplementation of calcium is associated with an increased risk of infarction, and this must be considered when one decides to start an integration therapy with calcium: the modest benefit on bones and on fracture risk is widely balanced by cardiac damage. According to found data, the authors of the trial think that treating 1000 people with calcium for 5 years would provoke a decrease of 26 fractures but an increase of 14 infarctions.
