Q. I want to warn others about taking too much calcium and vitamin D. Apparently I took more than my limit and ended up with soft tissue calcifications.
My doctors doubted that this caused my calamity, but I am certain that it contributed. The calcium in my left arm caused a lot of pain. My mammogram also showed calcification. Calcium and vitamin D are very popular these days, but you can overdo.
A. Thanks for the words of caution. Women have been urged to increase their calcium intake to maintain strong bones, but a study from New Zealand also sounded a warning (British Medical Journal, Feb. 2, 2008).
Postmenopausal women were studied for five years. In addition to calcium in their food (roughly 850 mg daily), they took either 1000 mg calcium or placebo. The women taking extra calcium were more likely to suffer a heart attack during that time. Another study did not confirm this risk, but there is some concern that excess calcium and vitamin D might contribute to calcification.
