New research suggests that taking calcium and vitamin D supplements together can be both beneficial and dangerous for postmenopausal women.

This research Annual report of internal medicinefound that women who took both supplements at the same time decreased their risk of dying from cancer, but also increased their chances of dying from cardiovascular disease.

Postmenopausal women are at higher risk of developing osteoporosis because the drop in estrogen during this time reduces bone density, says Dr. Holly Tucker, an internist at the Cleveland Clinic who specializes in menopause and women’s health. That’s what it means. Osteoporosis is associated with low calcium levels, and vitamin D helps absorb calcium, so many postmenopausal women take supplements of both.

But experts said the study highlights the need to discuss your specific situation with your health care provider before taking supplements.

“I think we’re starting to realize that more is not always better,” said Dr. Anuradha Lala Trindade, a cardiologist at Mount Sinai Hospital. health. “Supplements should be warranted and individualized based on baseline risk and benefit potential.”

Here, experts explain how calcium and vitamin D supplements can affect postmenopausal women and what to consider before taking them.

For the study, researchers analyzed the records of more than 36,000 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that has been in place since 1992. .

Over about seven years, about half of the participants took 1,000 milligrams (mg) of calcium carbonate (containing 400 mg of elemental calcium) and 400 international units (IU) of vitamin D3, a form of vitamin D that humans naturally produce. . The rest took a placebo.

The study ended in 2005, and researchers then followed participants until December 2020.

The researchers found that participants in the supplement group had a 7% lower risk of dying from cancer than those in the placebo group. However, they were 6% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than those who did not take calcium and vitamin D.

The researchers noted some limitations to the study. First, it does not show that the supplement causes an increase or decrease in the risk of death, only that there is a link between the two. It was also unclear which nutritional component had the most significant relationship with mortality: calcium, vitamin D, or a combination of the two.

Mr. Tucker said. health It is thought that the amount of calcium and vitamin D that participants ingested may have influenced the study results.

“If you are also getting calcium from your diet, this study used too much calcium and is likely not the optimal vitamin D intake for most adult women,” she said. “If you get enough from your diet and your vitamin D levels are adequate, you don’t need to take calcium supplements.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for calcium for women ages 51 to 70 is 1,200 mg, and the RDA for vitamin D for women in this age group is 600 International Units.

This study builds on previous research that investigated how supplements affect an individual’s heart health.

Lara Trindade says some studies have shown a link between vitamin D supplementation and reduced cancer risk.

Observational studies have linked lower vitamin D levels to an increased likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease, but “randomized controlled trials have never shown that supplements reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.” No,” he added. [which are] It is the gold standard for testing the effectiveness of specific interventions. ”

Meanwhile, calcium has been associated with increased cardiovascular risk in both randomized trials and observational studies, Lara Trindade said.

New research emphasizes the need to consult your health care provider before adding any new supplements to your daily routine. Even if you start taking supplements without advice, experts say it’s worth talking to a medical professional.

Calcium and vitamin D are sometimes recommended for postmenopausal women, but your health care provider may decide you don’t need them.

Lara Trindade said health care providers consider a patient’s risk of developing symptoms and complications before making recommendations.

“I think the cardiovascular community recognizes that large-scale vitamin D and calcium supplementation can actually increase cardiovascular events, especially for high-risk individuals,” she added. Ta.

Still, Lara Trindade said the study’s results may not be significant enough to change current recommendations.

“While this research is important, we don’t know if it will change practice,” she explained.