Key result
In women over 60 years of age, oral calcium supplementation was not associated with a significantly increased progression of aortic valve calcification (39 vs 30 U, p=0.73) or coronary artery calcification over a 4-year follow-up.
Why the study?
The effect of oral calcium supplementation on the progression of aortic valve calcification and coronary artery calcification in elderly patients was unknown.
Does oral calcium supplementation affect the progression of aortic valve calcification or coronary artery calcification in adults >60 years of age?
Observational (n=257)
No
Does oral calcium supplementation affect the progression of aortic valve calcification or coronary artery calcification in adults >60 years of age?
Oral calcium supplementation in elderly women does not appear to accelerate the progression of aortic valve or coronary artery calcification over a 4-year period.
BACKGROUND: The use of oral calcium supplementation among the elderly for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and osteopenia is increasing. The incidence of aortic valve disease and coronary artery disease also is increasing. No study thus far has been done to demonstrate whether this affects the progression of calcification in both the valves and vasculature. We sought to determine whether ingestion of oral calcium supplementation has an effect on aortic valve calcification (AVC) and coronary artery calcification (CAC). METHODS: We performed an independent assessment of AVC, CAC, and calcium supplementation among patients enrolled in the Epidemiology of Coronary Artery Calcification study who were >60 years of age and had baseline and 4-year follow-up AVC data. In this population-based study of Olmsted County (Minnesota) residents, AVC and CAC scores were determined prospectively by electron beam computed tomography. We evaluated baseline demographic data and analyzed whether those patients using calcium supplementation had a higher rate of progression of both AVC and CAC. RESULTS: We identified 257 patients (mean age, 67.8+/-5.2 years), 144 of whom were women. Twenty-five patients (all women) reported using calcium supplements. Analysis of the 144 women (25 taking calcium supplementation) showed there was no difference in the progression of AVC (mean difference in baseline and follow-up AVC score; no supplement versus supplement, 30+/-9 vs 39+/-28; P=.73) or CAC (mean difference in baseline and follow-up CAC score; no supplement vs supplement, 47+/-15 vs 112+/-22; P=.154). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups with regard to baseline AVC, serum calcium, renal function, diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, or body mass index. CONCLUSION: In this community-based observational study with a 4-year follow-up, no significant increased progression of AVC or CAC was found in women taking oral calcium supplementation. Larger prospective, randomized studies are needed to confirm these findings.
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Bhakta et al. (2009) conducted an observational in Aortic valve calcification and coronary artery calcification (n=257). Oral calcium supplementation vs. No calcium supplementation was evaluated on Progression of aortic valve calcification (change in score from baseline to follow-up) (p=0.73). In women over 60 years of age, oral calcium supplementation was not associated with a significantly increased progression of aortic valve calcification (39 vs 30 U, p=0.73) or coronary artery calcification over a 4-year follow-up.
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