Millions of people take calcium supplements conscientiously to reduce their risk of osteoporosis. Nearly everyone has assumed that supplemental calcium is safe, but a recent analysis in the BMJ has caused quite a stir. The investigators concluded that calcium pills (without vitamin D) can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. What’s the story on calcium?
In the future, your doctor might recommend an evening with friends just as she now suggests you get more exercise. Find out about the research on social support and health.
Explore the stories behind the health headlines.
Guests: Amy Lanou, PhD, is assistant professor of health and wellness for the University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA). She is also senior nutrition scientist for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization. Her website is www.buildingbonevitality.com
The photo is of Dr. Lanou.
Bradley Layton is a graduate student in epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His paper was published in PLoS Medicine.
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