Calcium Intake Reduces Primary Hyperparathyroidism Risk

(Ivanhoe Broadcast)—The "Got Milk" campaign just scored a new demographic. According to a multi-year U.S. study, women between 39 and 66 years old who had high calcium intake levels were significantly less likely to develop primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT).

PHPT is caused by the over-secretion of parathyroid hormone from the parathyroid gland located in the neck. PHPT is especially prevalent among post-menopausal women over the age of 50 and can lead to troublesome symptoms we commonly associate with calcium: brittle bones, bone fractures and kidney stones. Untreated PHPT may also affect the vascular system, raising blood pressure and increasing risk of heart attack and stroke.

Researchers analyzed over 58,000 women in four-year intervals for 22 years to obtain a dataset reflecting the correlation between calcium intake and PHPT. Once they assimilated participant responses, the authors divided the women into five groups based on their calcium intake. Regardless of whether the increased calcium levels were due to supplements or diet, the group with the highest intake was 44 percent less likely to develop PHPT than the group with the lowest intake.

Overall, there were 277 confirmed PHPT cases. Study authors used several analysis methods accounting for factors like ethnicity, age and body mass index (BMI) and the trend was clear: calcium reduces PHPT risks.

The researchers said in a prepared statement that new studies need to focus on "other environmental and lifestyle risk factors that could chronically stimulate the parathyroid gland and thereby affect subsequent development of primary hyperparathyroidism." They acknowledge there may be other PHPT contributing factors not accounted for in this analysis.

Ultimately, the study concludes calcium is beneficial to your health, but you must be aware of personal risk factors and should consult a doctor to create a wellness plan. Supplement dosages as low as 500mg could reduce your risk of developing PHPT by 59 percent when compared to no supplement at all.

Source: British Medical Journal
 

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