Taking calcium supplements could increase the risk of heart attack, a new study performed by researchers at the German Cancer Research Centre in Heidelberg suggests. Details of the study were published on May 23 in the journal Heart.
The research team examined health data collected from 23,980 adults over the course of a decade. They found those taking calcium supplements were 86 percent more likely to experience heart attacks than those who did not.
"This research indicates that there may be an increased risk of having a heart attack for people who take calcium supplements. However, this does not mean that these supplements cause heart attacks," Natasha Stewart of the British Heart Association said.
"Further research is needed to shed light on the relationship between calcium supplements and heart health. We need to determine whether the potential risks of the supplements outweigh the benefits calcium can give sufferers of conditions such as osteoporosis."
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