03-Aug-2010

I have always been wary about supplements that are not from a food source and have been made as a stand alone vitamin or mineral.  And here now is yet more evidence that single dose vitamins or minerals are not the solution and have the potential to increase dis-ease.  Calcium supplementation is given for the prevention of osteoporosis but now we see it increases the chance of heart disease by 30% in older people.  What other problems are we going to find, I think it is time to be prudent about single dose nutrients  I think we also have to rethink that a single nutrient is the sole problem in a disease as is the case with cholesterol and heart disease.  Time to look at the broader picture when it comes to our body, health and nutrient supplementation and vindicaton.

Calcium pills up heart attack risk Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:45:08 GMT Font size : Taking calcium supplements frequently can place the majority of the elderly at an increased risk of experiencing heart attacks, a new study suggests.
Many individuals all around the world are taking calcium pills, hoping to protect themselves against osteoporosis and related bone fractures.
According to the study published in the British Medical Journal, these medications are not very effective in preventing bone fractures in the eldery.
These individuals are also reported to be 30 percent more likely to have a heart attack regardless of their gender, their age and the type of supplement they were taking.
Such an increased risk, however, was not noted in younger individuals taking these medications, the study found.
Extra calcium circulating in the blood is believed to increase the risk of cardiovascular events through hardening the arteries.
Scientists therefore urge physicians to revise their guidelines regarding the use of calcium supplements for managing osteoporosis, stressing that having a sufficient calcium intake from their daily diet is more beneficial than reaching out for calcium pills.
"We've always recommended that people should aim to get the calcium they need from their diet to help build stronger bones," said Claire Bowring of the National Osteoporosis Society, adding that "If you get all of the calcium that you need from your diet and adequate vitamin D from exposure to sunshine, then a supplement will not be necessary."
source - 31st July Press TV http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=136910&sectionid=3510210

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