Cardiovascular risks of calcium supplements in women.

The authors reflect on the cardiovascular risks of calcium supplementation in older women and on research which has examined the use of calcium supplements in older women. They suggest that the increased risk of myocardial infarction associated with calcium supplementation outweighs a proven reduction in fracture that has been associated with calcium supplementation. They argue that based on available evidence it seems prudent to only use calcium supplementation in patients who are also being given treatment for osteoporosis with drugs including bisphopsphonates.