Cardiovascular safety of calcium, magnesium and strontium: what does the evidence say?
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
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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.