Last time we looked at calcium supplements and cardiovascular risk. The indicators are strong that men should not be taking calcium supplements in the absence of a very clear, unambiguous reason to do so. Women at risk for osteoporosis, for example, need to discuss the relative risks and benefits with their physician. No treatment is without potential risks, so we need to make decisions based on likely outcomes and known risks.
Susanna C. Larsson PhD puts the issue of calcium in perspective:
In addition to the cardiovascular risks we have considered, there are elevated risks of kidney stones (renal calculi). Calcium is intimately related to the development of kidney stones, also called “calcium stones.
The U.S.Preventive Services Task Force has issued recommendations.
Here is what those recommendations ( I Statement and Grade: D) mean:
The best, meaning safest, sources of calcium are not supplements but diet. The Office of Dietary Supplements at NIH has issued a helpful Calcium Fact Sheet/a>
The recommended daily allowances for calcium are:
And some of the best sources to attain that level of daily calcium consumption are:
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