Does calcium intake affect cardiovascular risk factors and/or events?

Abstract

Dietary intervention is an important approach in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Over the last decade, some studies have suggested that a calcium-rich diet could help to control body weight, with anti-obesity effects. The potential mechanism underlying the impact of calcium on body fat has been investigated, but it is not fully understood. Recent evidence has also suggested that a calcium-rich diet could have beneficial effects on other cardiovascular risk factors, such as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension and inflammatory states. In a series of studies, it was observed that a high intake of milk and/or dairy products (the main sources of dietary calcium) is associated with a reduction in the relative risk of cardiovascular disease. However, a few studies suggest that supplemental calcium (mainly calcium carbonate or citrate) may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. This review will discuss the available evidence regarding the relationship between calcium intake (dietary and supplemental) and different cardiovascular risk factors and/or events.

Calcium Absorption from Food Products: Food Matrix Effects

“…Attaining and retaining the required amount of calcium is essential for the development, strength and density of bones in children and for the prevention of bone loss and osteoporotic fractures in elderly people [ 28 , 29 , 30 ]. An adequate calcium intake contributes also to reduce the risk of different chronic diseases, e.g., hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, colon cancer, kidney stones and abdominal obesity [ 8 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. Of course, calcium intake alone is not sufficient to achieve these vital functions, as calcium needs to be absorbed.…”

Association of dietary calcium with mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease and cancer in people with hypertension

“…Several mechanisms could explain this association between dietary calcium intake and mortality 13,18,26–31 . Calcium metabolism in healthy individuals keeps body calcium level in homeostasis and thus calcium can serve its physiological function appropriately; however, in people with hypertension, calcium deficiency is essentially prevalent and their calcium metabolism is abnormal, 13,14,26 so physiological functions related to calcium, like blood pressure regulation, also fail to work as normal 13,14,26 .…”

“…But by supplementing calcium through dietary approaches, calcium deficiency and abnormalities in calcium metabolism can be alleviated, thus hypertensive patients may attain optimal blood pressure control and further decrease subsequent CVD risks or mortality risks related to blood pressure 13,14,26 . Some researchers have offered other explanations for the association, for example, the effect of low calcium intake on all‐cause or CVD mortality may be mediated through dyslipidemia, insulin resistance or inflammatory stress 27,28 . In terms of cancer mortality, calcium may play a role in the cancer‐suppressive autophagy process through multiple calcium ion signaling pathways, 30,31 including transient receptor potential channels (TRPCs), 30 voltage‐gated Ca2+ channel (VGCC) and purinergic P2 Receptors, 30 IP3 receptors, 31 or Ca2+ release‐activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channels 31 .…”

“…Several mechanisms could explain this association between dietary calcium intake and mortality. 13 , 18 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 Calcium metabolism in healthy individuals keeps body calcium level in homeostasis and thus calcium can serve its physiological function appropriately; however, in people with hypertension, calcium deficiency is essentially prevalent and their calcium metabolism is abnormal, 13 , 14 , 26 so physiological functions related to calcium, like blood pressure regulation, also fail to work as normal. 13 , 14 , 26 But by supplementing calcium through dietary approaches, calcium deficiency and abnormalities in calcium metabolism can be alleviated, thus hypertensive patients may attain optimal blood pressure control and further decrease subsequent CVD risks or mortality risks related to blood pressure.…”

Determinação do índice glicêmico da polpa de açaí

“…Conforme a Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS), o aumento na ingestão de potássio pode reduzir a pressão arterial e o risco de doenças cardiovasculares 29 . Além disso, sabe-se que a ingestão de cálcio também está associada à uma modesta redução da pressão arterial 30 . O benefício dos antioxidantes também é comprovado, eles são importantes na prevenção de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis e prevenção de diversas neoplasias 31 .…”