Is it safe to take calcium supplements? – KOMO News

Calcium is one of the most important minerals for the human body. We need it for a lot more than just strong teeth and bones.

Many people who don't get enough calcium in their diet take calcium supplements.

But do calcium supplements increases the risk of heart disease? That's been the concern for awhile now.

The latest research strongly suggests that they do not, said Dr. John Swartzberg, head of the editorial board at the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter.

That new research found that calcium from food or supplements, up to 2,500 milligrams a day more than double the recommended intake is not associated with increased coronary risk in healthy people.

The current recommendations are for adults to get 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams of calcium a day.

Ideally, we should try to get that all from a diet and not take it from supplements, Swartzberg said. But if you can't get it all from a diet and you need more calcium, I think you can take a calcium supplement without worrying about your heart."

One caution: High doses of calcium from supplements do increase the risk of the most common type of kidney stones, the Wellness Letter notes. High-calcium foods, such as dairy products, protect against these stones.

More Info: Calcium and heart disease: What is the connection?

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Is it safe to take calcium supplements? - KOMO News