There are good and bad news with taking the mixture.
Recent research has shed light on the potential drawbacks of supplemental vitamin D plus calcium for postmenopausal women. A follow-up analysis of data from the Women’s Health Initiative trial revealed mixed results concerning the supplement combination’s impact on health outcomes. While the study found a 7% decrease in the long-term risk of dying from cancer among women taking the supplements, it also observed a 6% increase in the likelihood of fatal heart disease. This suggests that there is no net effect on all-cause mortality among older women who take the supplement combo.
Cynthia Thomson, leading the research team from the University of Arizona, speculated that calcium supplements might contribute to arterial calcification, potentially elevating the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality. Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine on March 11, the study questions the efficacy of calcium and vitamin D supplementation, which many older women use to fortify their bones and potentially reduce the risks of heart disease and cancer.
The Women’s Health Initiative trial, initiated in 1991, has been monitoring the health outcomes of participants for over two decades. Initial findings in 2006 suggested minimal impact from calcium/vitamin D supplementation on women’s health. To evaluate any potential changes in outcomes over time, the research team revisited the WHI data after more than 22 years. Their analysis revealed no significant benefit in terms of overall mortality among older women.
Although there was a slight reduction in the risk of fatal cancers associated with calcium and vitamin D supplementation, it was offset by a slight increase in heart-related deaths. Moreover, the study highlighted an elevated risk of kidney stones associated with daily calcium/vitamin D supplementation. The daily doses administered in the WHI trial comprised 1,000 milligrams of calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D.
In summary, while calcium and vitamin D supplements may marginally reduce cancer mortality, they could potentially increase the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality among postmenopausal women. Overall, the supplementation had no discernible effect on all-cause mortality, prompting further evaluation of its long-term implications.
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