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- Research suggests that taking calcium and vitamin D supplements may reduce the risk of death from cancer in postmenopausal women, but may also increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. It has been.
- Calcium and vitamin D supplements are often recommended for postmenopausal women to prevent bone loss.
- Experts say the study should be interpreted with caution and women should talk to their doctors about whether they should take supplements.
Taking calcium and vitamin D supplements in postmenopausal women may reduce the risk of death from cancer, but may also increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
That’s according to a study published today in the journal Annual report of internal medicinereported that women who took calcium and vitamin D supplements had a 7% lower risk of dying from cancer, but a 6% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
“Our study also found an 11% lower overall cancer risk, including a 31% and 19% lower incidence of colorectal cancer and invasive breast cancer,” the study authors wrote. .
To arrive at their findings, researchers at the University of Arizona investigated the health effects of calcium and vitamin D supplements in more than 36,000 postmenopausal women. We performed a follow-up analysis of the largest randomized trial.
However, the study authors say the results should be interpreted with caution, considering how the study was conducted.
“Given the study design, we were not able to disentangle any additional benefits or harms of taking supplements with calcium and vitamin D in combination versus taking vitamin D alone. This is worthy of future research.” theme,” the researchers wrote.
Dr. Howard Hodis, an internal medicine specialist at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, California, who was not involved in the study, said there are a number of factors that could explain the study group’s reduced cancer risk. He said it was possible.
“It’s important to understand that this is a follow-up that takes place after the trial ends. So this is actually an observational follow-up of individuals who participated in a previous trial, so they are no longer It’s not under randomized conditions,” he explained. Today’s medical news.
“Many factors can influence that. Maybe that group is healthier in some ways because they have less cancer. They exercise more and lose weight. , they’re eating better, but there’s no way to know if that’s true,” Hollis added.
Previous observational studies have shown that people who take calcium supplements have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease-related events than people who do not take calcium supplements. The decline in estrogen levels seen during menopause can also increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
The risk of cardiovascular disease events is particularly significant for people who consume more than 1,400 mg of calcium per day.
The recommended daily calcium intake for women over 50 is:
During menopause, estrogen production decreases, resulting in decreased calcium absorption and increased urinary calcium loss.
After menopause, women lose weight rapidly
“All women during and after the menopausal transition are at risk for osteopenia and osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis fractures can be fatal later in life. “That’s why in women’s health, we’re so focused on protecting the bones of women as they transition into midlife and beyond,” says Dr. McKenzie, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford University in California, who was not involved. said Dr. Leah Millhiser.said in her research Today’s medical news.
“So it’s important to get enough calcium and vitamin D, but we have to consider that… we have to look at every woman as an individual. What are her risk factors? ? Does she have a medical condition that doesn’t make her want extra calcium? Does she have a high calcium score? … Those are all things we need to consider,” Millhiser said. added.
Dr. G. Thomas Lewis, chief obstetrician and gynecologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in California, who was not involved in the study, said hormone replacement therapy protects bone health in postmenopausal women. He says it may also be useful.
“In my ideal world, women would undergo hormone replacement therapy and take vitamin D and calcium supplements to minimize the risk of osteoporosis. Replacement therapy is not an option,” Lewis said. Today’s medical news.
“It’s thought that exercising with weight and supplementing with calcium and vitamin D can slow the loss of calcium from your bones. And that seems to be true. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than doing nothing.” is better,” he added.
What Arizona Research Built
“Our finding that the effect on cancer endpoints appears to be more pronounced among people without prior calcium and vitamin D supplementation suggests that calcium and vitamin D supplementation primarily affects nutritional status. “Our findings suggest that this may influence cancer biology in the context of compensating for deficiencies,” the authors of the new paper say. The study was written.
Experts say the best things women can do to maintain good health during and after menopause are to stay active, stop smoking, eat a healthy diet, and talk to their health care provider about whether supplements are appropriate. He says it is a matter of discussion.
“This is not a one-size-fits-all conversation. We have to look at every woman and her medical history,” Millhiser said.
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