Increased dietary calcium may lower CVD risk in older women

BOSTON — Older women who are part of a low dietary calcium population in South Korea lowered their risk for cardiovascular disease with higher calcium intake, but saw no reduction in stroke or fracture risk, according to study findings presented here.

“Although a high level of calcium intake has been associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease in studies from calcium-replete areas, relatively higher calcium intake may be beneficial in low calcium intake countries,” Chan Soo Shin, MD, PhD, professor in the department of internal medicine at Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, South Korea, told Endocrine Today.

Shin and colleagues analyzed data from 4,866 adults aged at least 50 years without previous CVD or stroke history participating in the Ansung and Ansan cohort study, an ongoing, prospective, community-based study in Korea (2,690 women). Participants completed periodic food frequency questionnaires; CVD, stroke and fractures were recorded during interviews and examinations every 2 years. Researchers used proportional Cox regression analysis to determine HRs for all-cause mortality, CVD, cerebrovascular disease and fractures, adjusting for age, BMI, vegetable and fruit intake, protein and sodium intake, physical activity, smoking status, alcohol use, diabetes and hypertension history, and total energy from diet. Researchers also adjusted for menopausal status and hormone replacement therapy in women. Women were followed for a mean of 9.2 years; men followed for a mean of 8.9 years.

Chan Soo Shin

Within the cohort, 359 participants died (243 men); 340 developed CVD (153 men); 157 experienced stroke (59 men); 568 experienced incident fractures (212 men).

In comparing the four quartiles for energy-adjusted calcium intake, women experienced an increased reduction in CVD risk with increasing dietary calcium intake. Women in the highest quartile saw the greatest risk reduction for CVD vs. the lowest quartile (HR = 0.53; 95% CI, 0.33-0.86), followed by women in the third (HR = 0.0.56; 95% CI, 0.36-0.85) and second quartiles (HR = 0.0.8; 95% CI, 0.55-1.17) when compared with women in the lowest quartile. Researchers found no association between dietary calcium intake and stroke or fracture risk in women.

Dietary calcium intake did not affect all-cause mortality, CVD risk, stroke risk or fracture risk in men.

Shin said he hopes to see intervention studies that can elucidate the effects of calcium supplementation on CVD in low calcium intake areas, stratifying the total amount of calcium intake. – by Regina Schaffer

Reference :

Shin CS, et al. PP14-4. Presented at: The Endocrine Society Annual Meeting; April 1-4, 2016; Boston.

Disclosure: Shin reports no relevant financial disclosures.