The Milk Producer - June 2011 - (Page 50)

THEBACKFORTY By Sharon Laidlaw Milk trumps supplements New study shows women loading up on calcium pills put themselves at great risk of heart attacks A new study suggests women who load up on calcium supplements to maintain bone health may be doing their bodies more harm than good. There is mounting evidence that calcium supplements increase heart attack risks in older women. The findings suggest their use in managing osteoporosis should be re-assessed. University of Auckland professor Ian Reid and his research team, reanalysed the U.S.-based Women’s Health Initiative seven-year study that found no cardiovascular effect of taking combined calcium and vitamin D supplements in 36,000 older women. The researchers analysed data from 16,718 women who were not taking calcium supplements at the start of the trial and found those taking combined calcium and vitamin D supplements were at an increased risk of getting a heart attack. By contrast, combined calcium and vitamin D supplements did not alter the cardiovascular risk in women who were taking personal calcium supplements at the start of the trial. The researchers believe the abrupt change in blood calcium levels after taking a supplement causes the adverse effect, and not the amount of calcium consumed. High blood calcium levels are linked to calcification or hardening of the arteries. The report linked calcium supplements to a 30 per cent greater heart attack risk, especially among people who also consumed calcium from their diet. Other studies, involving 29,000 people also found consistent increas- Getting your calcium from milk and milk products appears to be a much better choice to ward off osteoporosis. es in heart attack and stroke risks associated with taking calcium supplements, with or without vitamin D. Food is the best calcium source, according to Dairy Farmers of Canada. Several studies have demonstrated that milk products are superior to calcium supplements alone, likely due to the role of other nutrients found in milk products that have also been shown to be important for bone health. If you’re getting what you need from your diet, you don’t need a calcium supplement. Adults aged 19 to 50 need 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day. After age 50, Osteoporosis Canada advises a daily intake of 1,500 milligrams. Kids aged 9 to 13 require 1,300 milligrams, four to eight year-olds need 800 milligrams and younger children should get 500 milligrams. According to Osteoporosis Canada, one in four women and at least one in eight men over the age of 50 suffers from osteoporosis. For most adults, these numbers translate into three or four dairy servings per day. One cup (250 ml) of milk or yogurt delivers roughly 300 milligrams of calcium, as does 1.5 ounces (45 grams) of hard cheese. The research was published online in the British Medical Journal. 50 | June 2011 | MilkPRODUCER

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Milk Producer - June 2011

The Milk Producer - June 2011
Contents
Editor’s Notes
DFO Chair’s Message
Dairy Update
Industry Roundup
DFC Promotion
Research
Applied Science
Ruminations
Rearing Replacements
Markets
New ’N’ Noted
Back Forty

The Milk Producer - June 2011