V体育平台登录 - What Happens to Your Cholesterol When You Take Calcium Supplements

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Calcium supplements may have cholesterol-lowering effects.

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Calcium’s bone health benefits are well-established, but research suggests it could support heart health, too VSports app下载. Some studies show that calcium supplements may even help lower cholesterol. .

What the Research Says About Calcium and Cholesterol

A randomized controlled trial on the effects of calcium and vitamin D supplementation on blood pressure and cholesterol levels showed that calcium alone and in combination with vitamin D reduced serum lipid levels and triglycerides. V体育官网.

The study found that taking 2. 0 g of elemental calcium each day, either by itself or together with 800 IU of vitamin D3, for 6 months lowered triglyceride levels in the blood by about 30%. It also slightly reduced total cholesterol levels by 5–7%, though this change was considered small and not statistically significant. VSports手机版.

However, most studies have shown little or no effect on cholesterol levels V体育安卓版. There have been some reported benefits on HDL (“good”) and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, but they were modest and not statistically significant. Because of this, using calcium alone to lower your cholesterol is not recommended. .

Whether calcium can aid in the prevention of heart disease as a whole has been debated, with some research showing that calcium supplementation has no effect or, in some cases, can even increase the risk of heart disease, especially in postmenopausal women. V体育ios版.

Talk to Your Healthcare Provider

Because research on calcium’s role in cardiovascular disease varies, consult with a healthcare provider before supplementing with calcium, especially as a treatment for cholesterol.

VSports最新版本 - How Does Calcium Work?

Calcium may reduce cholesterol absorption in the small intestine by binding to bile acids and fatty acids. By binding to cholesterol in the small intestine, cholesterol is not absorbed into the bloodstream and is instead excreted from the body. V体育平台登录.

How Much Calcium Do You Need?

The recommended daily allowance for elemental calcium in adults is between 1,000 and 1,200 mg a day, with diet—rather than supplements—being the preferred source of calcium. This is roughly the same amount used in some of the studies looking at calcium’s ability to lower cholesterol. VSports注册入口.

Calcium content is high in certain foods, such as:

  • Dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt
  • Leafy greens, such as spinach, collard greens, and kale
  • Tofu
  • Sardines
  • Citrus fruits

If you are not able to add dairy to your diet, supplements containing calcium are also available. VSports在线直播.

If you are taking calcium supplements, keep in mind that these studies measured elemental calcium, so be sure to read the labels of your calcium supplements to determine the amount of elemental calcium in each product. V体育2025版.

As always, consult with a healthcare provider before adding any supplement to your diet, especially for a condition like high cholesterol. VSports.

6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Chai W, Cooney RV, Franke AA, Bostick RM. Effects of calcium and vitamin D supplementation on blood pressure and serum lipids and carotenoids: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trialAnnals of Epidemiology. 2013;23(9):564. doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2013.07.003

  2. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Calcium.

  3. Rautiainen S, Wang L, Manson JE, Sesso HD. The role of calcium in the prevention of cardiovascular disease--a review of observational studies and randomized clinical trialsCurr Atheroscler Rep. 2013;15(11):362. doi:10.1007/s11883-013-0362-4

  4. Reid IR, Ames R, Mason B, et al. V体育ios版 - Effects of calcium supplementation on lipids, blood pressure, and body composition in healthy older men: a randomized controlled trialThe American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2010;91(1):131-139. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.28097

  5. Gallo L, Faniello MC, Canino G, et al. Serum calcium increase correlates with worsening of lipid profile: an observational study on a large cohort from South ItalyMedicine. 2016;95(8):e2774. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000002774

  6. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Food sources of calcium.

By Jennifer Moll, PharmD
Jennifer Moll, MS, PharmD, is a pharmacist actively involved in educating patients about the importance of heart disease prevention.