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Cardiovascular safety of calcium, magnesium and strontium: what does the evidence say?

Aging clinical and experimental research
March 1, 2021
Elizabeth M Curtis et al. (3 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the roles of calcium, magnesium, and strontium in musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health, focusing on clinical evidence and safety profiles.

Results Summary

Calcium supplementation is most effective for bone health when combined with vitamin D or antiosteoporosis medications, with gastrointestinal side effects and a slight risk of renal stones noted. No convincing evidence links calcium supplementation to adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

Population

Individuals with potential calcium deficiency or osteoporosis, particularly those without cardiovascular risk factors.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (9)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
calcium supplementation
no change
bone health
those who are deficient in these nutrients
-
is most appropriately used in combination with vitamin D supplementation and targeted to those who are deficient in these nutrients, or in combination with antiosteoporosis medications
#1
calcium supplementation
increase
gastrointestinal side effects
-
-
is associated with gastrointestinal side effects
#2
calcium supplementation
increase
renal stones
-
small
is associated with a small increased risk
#3
calcium supplementation
no change
cardiovascular outcomes
-
-
purported links with cardiovascular outcomes remain unconvincing
#4
greater dietary intake and serum concentrations of magnesium
decrease
cardiovascular events
-
-
appear protective against
#5
strontium ranelate
decrease
fracture
-
clear
has clear anti-fracture efficacy
#6
strontium ranelate
increase
thromboembolic disease
-
-
is associated with an increased risk
#7
strontium ranelate
increase
myocardial infarction
-
-
a signal for increased risk has been detected in some studies
#8
strontium ranelate
no change
severe osteoporosis
those who do not have cardiovascular risk factors
-
provides a useful therapeutic option
#9
Abstract

Calcium, magnesium and strontium have all been implicated in both musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health and disease. However, despite these three elements being closely chemically related, there is marked heterogeneity of their characteristics in relation to cardiovascular outcomes. In this narrative review, we describe the relevant evidential landscape, focusing on clinical trials where possible and incorporating findings from observational and causal analyses, to discern the relative roles of these elements in musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health. We conclude that calcium supplementation (for bone health) is most appropriately used in combination with vitamin D supplementation and targeted to those who are deficient in these nutrients, or in combination with antiosteoporosis medications. Whilst calcium supplementation is associated with gastrointestinal side effects and a small increased risk of renal stones, purported links with cardiovascular outcomes remain unconvincing. In normal physiology, no mechanism for an association has been elucidated and other considerations such as dose response and temporal relationships do not support a causal relationship. There is little evidence to support routine magnesium supplementation for musculoskeletal outcomes; greater dietary intake and serum concentrations appear protective against cardiovascular events. Strontium ranelate, which is now available again as a generic medication, has clear anti-fracture efficacy but is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic disease. Whilst a signal for increased risk of myocardial infarction has been detected in some studies, this is not supported by wider analyses. Strontium ranelate, under its current licence, thus provides a useful therapeutic option for severe osteoporosis in those who do not have cardiovascular risk factors.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Bone Density Conservation AgentsCalciumFemaleHumansMagnesiumOsteoporosisOsteoporosis, PostmenopausalStrontium
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety75
Efficacy80/10
Quality85/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations21
Citations/Year5.3
Relative Citation Ratio2.33
NIH Percentile78.9%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.71
Normalized Score0.79
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