Calcium intake

[eye2dry]

hi all.

Heard on the news about over-doing the calcium. They said not to take over 1200mg for women.  Can't  remember (sjs fog) if they said all women or women of a certain age group.

They mentioned that it leaves calcium deposits on our blood vessels, hard on our heart with increase in heart attacks......hard on our kidneys as well.

I do not take HRT so I take quite a bit of calcium for my bones, 1000 mgs in supplements BUt I eat alot of cheese, yogurt and drink lots of milk.

Other than gardening, using my stairs 30 times a day...I do not exercise.

My last 2 DEXA scans were good.

How much do you all take? Is anyone worried about this new revelation?


eye2dry

[Skylar]

The only supplements I take are B12 and D2 because those I am deficient in by lab tests.

I don't take calcium or any other supplements. Over the years there have been many quality research articles coming out showing taking vitamin pills deleterious to our health. The best is to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables so you get what you need from your food - because along with the "known" vitamins and minerals are many more phyconutrients that science hasn't discovered yet and are not in vitamin pills. In addition research has shown that taking some nutrients in isolation has been harmful. One example is Beta-carotene which showed promise in the test tube when it killed lung cancer cells - however when given to patients it actually increase lung cancer. Here is the abstract Risk factors for lung cancer and for intervention effects in CARET, the Beta-Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial which states that the trail had to be stopped early because too many patients were dying: put http://www in front to make the link    ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8901853

I have used CRON-o-Meter in the past to check my diet. This nutritional tracking software is easy to use, free and is populated with data from USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference official Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI). It actually was designed for people who follow Calorie Restriction (CR) diets because they believe that they will live longer and healthier lifes - I don't follow CR because I like to eat food LOL. But because their calories are so limited, they wanted a data base that was very detailed and as accurate as possible which makes it ideal for anyone to use to track all kinds of nutrients that aren't usually tracked in the mainstream tracking programs such as Myplate at Lance Armstrongs website Lifestrong. CRON-o-Meter is found by putting the http:// in front of this       cronometer.com  You can use it to track your food - see where you are deficient and where you are doing well - play around and see how you can balance your diet to meet the USDA's DRI.

I tracked my diet over several weeks and my calcium intake was well within range.

[irish]

You know what!! I have wondered for years about the calcium attaching to the blood vessels. That is why I only take 600 mgm a day. I have just had a bad vibe about that. Also, the kidneys can't tolerate a lot of calcium either.

My hubby always runs a high normal calcium and 1/10 point above normal. This is caused by the blood pressure medications that he is on. Our immunologist told him to just quit taking the calcium so that he didn't ruin his kidneys. I was glad to hear that.

He has bad osteoporosis but I just don't worry about it. Our GP told us that just because a person has osteoporsis doesn't mean that they will break a bone. He said it was kind of a crapshoot. Some people with not so bad osteo will have a lot of fractures and others with bad osteoporosis can get by without any fractures. Anyway your look at it a bad fall is probably going to end up with a fracture when we get older.

There are so many choices we have to make. As I get older I find that I don't feel as strongly about certain things like I did when I was younger. I have learned that our health status and longevity is helped by using common sense and tried and proven medical knowledge.

After that it is up a higher Power, I think. So, live and enjoy yourself in moderation.

I don't think this counts pizza and Chinese food!!! Irish

[sktaylor]

I also take calcium with vitamin D-1200 mg a day per my GYN. I was tested about 10 years ago and it showed I had osteopenia and osteoporosis runs in my family.
I also read the article that links calcium to heart attacks. I was planning to ask my rheumy about it next month when I see him. For now I think I will discontinue it.
All I need is another health issue!!!

[lighthouse33]

They are having a lively discussion on this very topic on the National Osteoporosis Foundation Support Community.  The thread entitled "Latest news report re: calcium supplements and heart attacks" can be found here:

http://www.inspire.com/groups/national-osteoporosis-foundation/discussion/latest-news-report-re-calcium-supplements-and-heart-attacks/

From what I have read in two Osteoporosis books and on this website is that all you have to do to eliminate the heart attack risk it to take Vitamin K.  It takes the calcium out of the arteries etc.  This is what I do.  I take the Citracal Plus Bone Density Builder Calcium + Vitamin D ? 1200 Calcium, 800 Vitamin D, Genistein and a Vitamin K supplement.

I have osteopenia with a T Score of -2.1.  My parents both have osteoporosis.  Mom has one compression fracture of the vertebrae.  Dad has two compression fractures of the spine (T7 and T9).  He has full blown osteoporosis.  His GP told him that he could die of a heart attack first and that the osteo may not even come into play.  He is now taking Fosomax. 

Mom's life will never be the same.  She will never play golf or drive again.  Just turning over in bed could lead to another fracture.  For me, right now the osteoporosis scares me more than the Sjogren's.  I'd rather die of a heart attack than be disabled and in pain for the rest of my life like my mom.

I've started wearing a weighted walking vest when I work out on the treadmill and am up to 25 minutes.  My Gyno asked me what scared you?  I said mom and dad did.  I am going to do my best to reverse this as much as I can.  I can't eat fruits and vegetables because of my fructose malabsportion problem. 

[jazzlover]

I take very little calcium. I take what I can get away with, as it constipates me bigtime. I take Vit K-2 and D-3 to protect my bones.

[lighthouse33]

I forgot to mention that I have added a strontium citrate supplement to my diet for my bones.

[quilt4fun]

  I take 1260 calcium + D a day.  For the past 9 or 10 years my numbers have been  up and down between -2.25 and -2.5.  I have taken at least 5 different medications and nothing seems to help. Some of them caused really bad reactions.
Last May I got my first Reclast; tomorrow is my Dexa-scan.  I'm interested to see if it has made a difference.

[jazzlover]

quilt........ do some research on K-2 and D-3

[eye2dry]

quilt4fun

after your DEXA let us hear if it (Reclast improved your score

eye2dry

[lighthouse33]

quilt4fun,

Definitely report back on your DEXA scan.

Here are three books that I have:

Outwitting Osteoporosis Smart Woman's Guide To Bone Health by Ronda Gates - this is my favorite

Osteoporosis: How To Prevent, Treat And Reverse It by Marilyn Glenville - I'm reading this right now - recommended by the National Osteoporosis Foundation Support Community

Your Bones by Lara Pizzorno - next on my list, also recommended by the National Osteoporosis Foundation Support Community