High calcium intake linked to cardiac death

Calcium supplementation is widely used by elderly individuals in Western countries to protect against osteoporosis. However, the effect of excess calcium on extraskeletal systems, such as the heart and vasculature, is largely unknown. Xiao et al. now report that a high intake of supplementary calcium (>1,000 mg per day) is associated with an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in men, but not in women.