London: As per the new study, conducted by the researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the calcium and vitamin D supplements which can though prevent the bone fractures in elderly women, but there is a strong warning that such elderly women’s chances of getting a heart attack or a stroke also increases through such supplements.
Moreover, as per the findings came out of the research so concluded, if a lakh of elderly women from the age group of sixty- five- year- old will take 1,000 mg calcium every day, 5890 hip fractures and 3820 other fractures would be prevented.
However, contrary to this, when the similar intake by the similar elderly women was seen, then as many as 5,917 heart attacks and 4,373 strokes could also be caused.
While commenting on the said findings, the lead author from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, namely, Gunhild Hegan found stated that “the moderate effect of calcium and vitamin D supplements on the risk of fractures is not large enough to outweigh the potential increased risk of cardiovascular disease, specifically in women who are at a low risk of bone fracture.”
Not only this, the studies which were conducted earlier also show that the taking of the supplemental calcium can also increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
While conducting the research, the team of the researchers found using the advanced analytical model for investigating the total health effect of taking a combination supplement of calcium and vitamin D, and to arrive at the conclusion the said team also compared them with the no supplements intake based on a group of health women from the similar age group.
There may be over ten thousands of the heart attacks and strokes, which can be seen causing by supplemental calcium and vitamin D in a group of a lakh of such elderly women. Also, the researchers investigated the cost- effectiveness of offering sixty- five- year old women supplemental calcium and vitamin D, assuming that the women were at a low risk of cardiovascular problems. Providing the supplements in such situation is cost- effective and god for the health of public, given that the benefits outweigh the risk, as per authors. The study as such published in the journal Osteoporosis International.
