Caution Needed When Supplementing Calcium for Diabetes Patients

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Caution Needed When Supplementing Calcium for Diabetes Patients

A new study reveals that diabetes patients should exercise caution when considering calcium supplementation, as it is associated with a 44% increased risk of all-cause mortality based on an 11-year follow-up of 430,000 individuals.

Calcium supplements are ubiquitous in our lives, often seen as a must-have, especially for older individuals, to prevent osteoporosis and maintain bone health.

However, the relationship between calcium and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has long been a subject of debate. Research has shown that excessive calcium supplementation can lead to a sudden increase in blood calcium levels, potentially harming the cardiovascular system.

While epidemiological studies haven’t shown a clear link between calcium supplements and cardiovascular disease in the general population, this conclusion may not apply to those with a higher risk of cardiovascular issues or individuals with calcium metabolism problems.

This includes diabetes patients.

Diabetes patients already face a 2-4 times higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease and premature death due to insulin resistance and high blood sugar. They are also more prone to calcium homeostasis abnormalities, which could exacerbate insulin resistance, high blood sugar, and subsequently, the risk of cardiovascular disease.

If this impact holds true, calcium supplementation could be a risky proposition for diabetes patients.

Recently, researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Tongji Medical College published a paper in the “Diabetes Care” journal. They analyzed data from over 430,000 individuals in the UK Biobank, finding a significant association between habitual calcium supplementation and increased cardiovascular disease incidence/death rates and all-cause mortality in diabetes patients, with risk elevations of 34%, 67%, and 44%, respectively. This association did not exist in non-diabetic individuals.

Clearly, diabetes patients should approach calcium supplementation with caution.

Caution Needed When Supplementing Calcium for Diabetes Patients. A new study reveals that diabetes patients should exercise caution when considering calcium supplementation, as it is associated with a 44% increased risk of all-cause mortality based on an 11-year follow-up of 430,000 individuals.

The UK Biobank consists of around 500,000 participants aged 40-69. The researchers excluded pregnant individuals, those with cardiovascular diseases or cancer, and those with incomplete calcium supplement usage data, ultimately including 434,374 participants. Diabetes was determined through medical history/medication history or baseline glycated hemoglobin levels.

The primary outcomes of the study were cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality, with secondary outcomes including ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and cerebrovascular disease incidence.

Data on calcium supplement usage habits came from survey questionnaires, which also included participants’ demographic characteristics, lifestyles, daily diets, and other medical histories.

In the end, the median age of the 434,374 participants was 56 years, with 45% being male and 21,676 having diabetes. 6.8% of participants habitually supplemented with calcium, with no significant difference between diabetes and non-diabetes patients.

Individuals who habitually used calcium supplements were more likely to be older, female, non-smokers, non-drinkers, and inclined to use other supplements. They were also more likely to have osteoporosis, follow healthier diets, and have higher serum vitamin D levels.

Follow-up for cardiovascular events and deaths occurred over 8.1 and 11.2 years, respectively. After adjusting for diet and lifestyle factors and other supplement usage, habitual calcium supplementation was associated with higher cardiovascular disease incidence/death rates and all-cause mortality, with risk increases of 34%, 67%, and 44%, respectively, compared to those who didn’t habitually supplement. No such association was found in the non-diabetic population.

This suggests a significant synergistic effect between habitual calcium supplementation and diabetes on cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality, with individuals exposed to both of these risk factors having a 2.18-2.96 times higher risk compared to those exposed to a single factor.

When comparing diabetes patients who habitually supplemented with calcium to non-diabetic individuals who didn’t, the risk increases for cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular death, and all-cause mortality reached 67%, 184%, and 120%, respectively.

This study is the first to reveal significant heterogeneity in the relationship between habitual calcium supplementation and cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in diabetes and non-diabetes populations. In diabetes patients, habitual calcium supplement use is associated with a heightened risk of cardiovascular events and death.

This finding serves as a reminder that diabetes patients should exercise caution when considering long-term calcium supplementation. Of course, calcium supplementation can still be necessary, but perhaps opting for calcium-rich dietary choices instead of long-term supplements might be the preferable choice.