Re: Study: calcium supplements raise heart attack risk

Atherosclerosis, Volume 194, Issue 2, Pages 426-432 (October 2007)

Carotid artery plaque thickness is associated with increased serum
calcium levels: The Northern Manhattan study

Mishaela R. Rubina, Tanja Rundekb, Donald J. McMahona, Hye-Seung Leeb,
Ralph L. Saccob, Shonni J. Silverberga

Abstract
Background
Elevated serum calcium concentrations are associated with vascular
calcification and cardiovascular disease. It is unknown whether there
is a relationship between high-normal serum calcium levels and sub-
clinical vascular effects. We investigated the association between
serum calcium and carotid plaque thickness, a powerful early predictor
of clinical coronary and cerebrovascular events.

Methods
Epidemiological study of 1194 subjects from the Northern Manhattan
Study cohort, a prospective community-based study designed to
investigate risk factors for vascular disease in different race-ethnic
groups.

Results
Subjects with carotid plaque had higher corrected serum calcium levels
within the normal range than those without carotid plaque
(2.21±0.09mmol/L versus 2.19±0.09mmol/L, p<0.002). The relationship
between carotid plaque and serum calcium persisted after adjustment
for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Subjects in the top
quintile of maximal carotid plaque thickness ( 1.7mm) were more likely
to be in the highest quintile of serum calcium level (OR=1.64, 95%
CI=1.17-2.29, p<0.004). The interaction of age and corrected serum
calcium was the most significant predictor of carotid plaque thickness
when traditional vascular risk factors were considered (p<0.001).

Conclusions
Serum calcium levels in a multi-ethnic population of older men and
women were positively associated with carotid plaque thickness, a
powerful early predictor of clinical coronary and cerebrovascular
events.

a Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians &
Surgeons, PH8W-864, 630 W. 168th St., New York, NY 10032, United
States

b Department of Neurology, Columbia University College of Physicians &
Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, United States

Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 212 305 6238; fax: +1 212 305 6486.



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