Media Relations: Mercy News Archive

Mercy News | Mercy Facts At A Glance | Medical Experts Profiles
Story Ideas / News Archive | Mercy on the Web | Contact Media Relations

WBAL-TV11's Donna Hamilton interviews Mercy internist Dr. Jonathan Rich

Mercy Internist Dr. Jonathan Rich Discusses New Research Linking Calcium Supplements To Heart Attack

A recent study showed that calcium supplements being taken by women may actually have adverse affects.

Lots of women take calcium supplements, and they're commonly prescribed for women older than 50 to avoid the risk of bone fractures.

But a recent study looked at results from 11 random trials and found that those taking the supplements had a 31 percent greater risk of heart attack compared to women on placebo.

According to Mercy Medical Center internist Dr. Jonathan Rich, there's no need to panic, but he advised getting calcium from your diet instead.

"You still need calcium for your body to function, but get it from your diet -- that's different than calcium from supplements," Dr. Rich said. In addition, the study examined results of postmenopausal women who took calcium pills without Vitamin D supplementation.

Dr. Rich noted that calcium from supplements spikes blood-calcium levels, while calcium from food is slowly absorbed. To view Dr. Jonathan Rich's interview on WBAL-TV11's "Woman's Doctor" program, click this link: http://www.wbaltv.com/womansdoctor/25950743/detail.html.