20 December 2013
A new study from China reports that higher intakes of calcium may reduce the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in older people with a low habitual calcium intake.
The observational study investigated a potential link between the dietary calcium intake and death from all-cause and cardiovascular disease of 3,139 Chinese men and women (aged 65 years and over, with no history of heart disease or stroke) over an average of 9.1 years (1). The study results showed that partici- pants with the highest calcium intakes (above 762 mg/day for men and above 688 mg/day for women) had a significantly reduced risk of all-cause mortality and a non-significant decreased risk of cardiovascular morta- lity when compared to participants with the lowest intakes (below 458 mg/day for men and below 417 mg/ day for women). A supplemental use of calcium appeared to be associated with a reduced risk of mortality, especially in all-cause mortality.
The researchers commented that while most epidemiological studies of calcium intake and mortality risk have been conducted in populations with a moderate to high calcium intake, this new study had focused on people with a low habitual calcium intake (i.e. a mean dietary calcium intake of less than 700 mg/day). A low-calcium intake may possibly affect mortality risk or cardiovascular disease-related risk through its effect on dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and blood pressure (2). On the other hand, it has been suggested that a very high calcium intake may long-term exert a harmful effect on cardiovascular health through several plausible mechanisms, such as vascular calcification and effects on arterial stiffness (3).
28 February 2011
According to a new review, people following a vegan diet low in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12 may have a high risk of developing blood clots and atherosclerosis.
12 June 2013
According to a new study from Germany, the extent of insufficient and deficient blood vitamin D levels in orthopedic patients is alarmingly high.
20 August 2014
A new US study reports that a supplementation with vitamin C in men with low vitamin C blood levels may improve physical conditions and decrease the incidence and duration of colds.
