Tuesday Oct 08, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A report in the Sep 30, 2013 issue of Nutrients warns food consumers and policy makers that high dietary calcium intake or taking calcium dietary supplements may boost risk of arterial calcification and cardiovascular disease in older adults.

J. J. Anderson and P. J. Klemmer from from Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC, authors of the report, say that there has been concern about the potential adverse effects of excessive calcium intake on risks of arterial calcification and cardiovascular disease in older adults.

Additionally the authors cite published reports as claiming that high calcium intakes do not improve bone mineral density (BMD) and are unable to lower fracture rates in healthy adults.  They suggest that the current recommendations of calcium intake for adults may be too high. 

The kidneys have limited capability of eliminating excessive calcium and the chance of soft-tissue calcification can increase in older adults who have compromised renal function or take calcium dietary supplements.

The authors urge that the recommendation of calcium intake considering BMD and bone health should also consider the potential risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Calcification can occur in soft tissue including arteries, cartilage, heart valves.  At risk are people who have vitamin K2 deficiency or poor calcium absorption because they have a high calcium/vitamin D ratio.   With a low intake of vitamin D, taking calcium dietary supplements can increase the ratio.  Vitamin K deficiency can be caused by an anticoagulant such as warfarin.

Calcification not only cause cardiovascular disease, but also many other diseases including tartar on teeth, calluses, arthritic bone spurs, kidney stones, gall stones, and heterotopic bone among others.

To reduce the risk of calcification, in addition to lowering the intake of calcium or not taking calcium dietary supplements, make sure to have sufficient intake of vitamin K and vitamin D.  Vitamin D is safer than previously thought and critics say that the current recommendation for vitamin D is way too low.  It is safe for adults to take 5000 IU of vitamin D per day, according to Vitamin D Council. (DL)