Healthy heart, Calcium and Vitamin D

Healthy heart, Calcium and Vitamin D

Is there a connection between heart health and vitamin D? Researchers for the Women’s Health Initiative hormone replacement therapy and heart health study also investigated the role of other vitamins and minerals.

As the calcification of plaques on arterial walls can cause coronary disease, researchers took a look at the relationship between heart health and vitamin D enriched calcium supplementation. After seven years, women taking these supplements had neither a decreased nor an increased risk of blood clots, stroke or heart disease. Although calcium and vitamin D are important for preventing osteoporosis, they do not seem to play a role in heart health.

The hormone replacement therapy and heart health study was ended early because of the number of adverse events experienced by the women in the study. At one time, it was believed that HRT promoted heart health, helped to prevent osteoporosis and improved the general health of post-menopausal women. After the hormone replacement therapy and heart health study was published, the recommendations concerning HRT were changed. It was recommended that women who choose HRT to relieve the symptoms associated with menopause should use the lowest dosage, for the shortest period of time possible.

A Focus Seminar on vitamin D, calcium and heart health was published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology in 2021 [1]. It was mentioned that although vitamin D supplements do not appear to be harmful for cardiovascular health, there is lack of evidence from randomized controlled trials. They suggested optimizing vitamin D status through healthy lifestyles like specific foods and modest sunlight exposure. They also cautioned that some studies of calcium supplementation had shown potential cardiovascular harm. Striving for recommended intake of calcium from food sources was favoured.

Reference

1. Michos ED, Cainzos-Achirica M, Heravi AS, Appel LJ. Vitamin D, Calcium Supplements, and Implications for Cardiovascular Health: JACC Focus Seminar. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021 Feb 2;77(4):437-449. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.09.617. PMID: 33509400.