Heaney, Robert P.

This poster presents an expert consensus position on the current controversy regarding calcium supplement use and risk of myocardial infarction. In November 2011, The CRN Foundation with the support of the National Osteoporosis Foundation and National Bone Health Alliance convened an expert panel of scientists from the nutrition and medical communities to review the total body of evidence and specifically studies relating calcium supplements to an increased risk of myocardial infarction. Because of the many data limitations present in the supporting studies relating calcium supplements to an increased risk of myocardial infarction and contrast to the large majority of the literature accompanied with recent reanalyses of the data, no change in prescribing practice is currently recommended. Prescribers should consider the potential benefits of calcium supplements for prevention of osteoporotic fractures based on an individual's personal dietary intake. Positive outcomes of calcium supplementation such as prevention of obesity and colorectal cancers may also carry weight in support of calcium supplements when individual dietary intakes are inadequate to meet IOM recommendations.