Americans spend a huge amount of money every year on calcium supplements in the hope that they can keep their bones and teeth strong and healthy. However, recent studies have shown that supplemental calcium may actually be doing more harm than good.
In another news item, we mentioned the research showing that people who take calcium supplements may be at an increased risk of heart disease. In this news update, I wanted to mention that you may also be at increased risk of kidney stones.
The U.S. Preventitive Services Task Force recently issues a draft statement recommending people do not take calcium or vitamin D supplements.
The Calcium fact sheet on the Office of Dietary Supplements website offers recommendations and also some information on studies done with calcium. When they discuss kidney stones, they mention a study of postmenopausal women who took 1000mg of supplemental calcium and 400 IU vitamin D per day for 7 years. These women had a 17% higher risk of kidney stones. They mention other studies that confirm these findings. They also confirm that high intakes of “dietary calcium” i.e. the calcium in the food we eat, did not appear to cause kidney stones and may even protect against their formation.