Can calcium supplements raise heart attack risk? What are the best nutrients for irregular heartbeats and heart health? Suzy Cohen, Lifescript’s expert pharmacist, answers the most important questions about your ticker while focusing on natural remedies. Plus, what’s your supplement IQ? Take our quiz to find out…
Dear Suzy Cohen,
Is it safe for me to take calcium supplements? You said on Facebook they might increase heart problems. Why is that?
–N.R., Seattle, Wash.
Hi N.R.,
My post was based on research showing that cardiovascular events (think heart attack or stroke) increased in older women who took calcium supplements; it was published in the April 2011 British Medical Journal (BMJ).
Calcium is suggested for post-menopausal women in order to maintain or build bone strength. In this study, researchers looked at data from 16,718 women in the famous Women’s Health Initiative trial.
They found that women who began taking calcium and vitamin D during the trial had an increased heart attack risk. (Those who were already taking the supplements didn’t have any greater risk.)
The scientists suspect heart trouble occurs because of an abrupt change in blood calcium levels, rather than total intake of calcium. That said, high blood levels of calcium have been linked to hardening of the arteries (calcification), which may partially explain their findings.
Data from 13 other trials (including 29,000 people) consistently points to an increased stroke and heart attack risk associated with calcium supplements (with or without vitamin D).
This is a hot topic – some physicians feel strongly that calcium is the master mineral of bone health. I think we need a good study to determine what’s going on.
Since the BMJ study refers to supplements, we have to wonder which are to blame. Are certain forms better than others? This wasn’t examined in the study.
For the time being, if you’re at risk for heart problems or stroke, I recommend you avoid calcium supplements. Get your calcium from food; it improves estrogen balance and protects bone mass. It’s also highly bioavailable (meaning your body absorbs it easily) and hasn’t been shown to cause calcification.
Eat lots of leafy greens, Swiss chard, kale, kelp, spinach, lettuce and broccoli. Tahini’s good too. I’m not a huge fan of dairy, but it’s certainly another option.
Don’t forget weight-bearing exercise, which will also reduce your risk of osteoporosis.
The exception is if you’re deficient. Bisphosphonate bone-building medications (Boniva, Actonel or Fosamax) can reduce calcium levels, so your doctor may suggest a supplement to restore levels to normal.
Dear Suzy Cohen,
I’ve been experiencing what my cardiologist calls “benign” arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) for two years. They come and go, and I’m unable to link them to any activities, foods or medicines. I’ve tried digoxin and beta blockers drugs, which didn’t work.
My doctor says he can fix the problem with ablation and a pacemaker. Do you think I should have the procedure done?
–S.C., Boulder, Colo.
Hi S.C.,
I think a second opinion is in order. Perhaps you need to see an electrophysiologist (a cardiologist who specializes in electrical disturbances of the heart) or a neurologist to figure out why you have the arrhythmia.
The standard practice for this problem is ablation – sort of like burning one of the nodes in your heart – and installing a pacemaker that forces your heart to beat in rhythm. Some people benefit from these procedures, but some don’t.
And while procedures such as ablation, pacemakers, angioplasty and stenting can save lives, they’re invasive and irreversible.
First, why not check for simple imbalances of essential minerals and amino acids? Personally, I wish testing RBC magnesium (the amount in your red blood cells) was routinely done before performing any of these operations – a deficiency is a contributing factor in heart attacks.
Recently, I went to the cardiologist with a friend who had an arrhythmia, and he was offered the same procedures as you. On my recommendation, he then visited a functional medicine physician (one who specializes in prevention), who ordered a blood test to evaluate his micronutrient status. The results showed my friend was deficient in both magnesium and taurine, a natural amino acid.
He bought these at a health-food store, along with the herbal supplement hawthorn extract. Within two weeks, his heart sank into a near-perfect rhythm.
Arrhythmias can be caused by nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, stress, candida albicans (yeast infection), other infections and even medications. An overactive thyroid may also cause it, as well as dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
All of these factors should be considered as possible causes before invasive procedures are done.
To protect your ticker, you may want to take some of the following heart-healthy nutrients. Discuss any new supplement therapy with your cardiologist first:
Aged Garlic Extract by Kyolic. This supplement slows and may even reverse atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), according to a UCLA study. Take two capsules twice daily with food.
Kyolic’s Aged Garlic Extract Blood Pressure Health, Formula 109. This includes nattokinase (a natural enzyme that thins the blood and could help prevent stroke and heart attack) as well as L-theanine, a green tea component that slows heart rate. Take two capsules twice daily with food.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). This antioxidant stabilizes your heartbeat by maintaining sinus rhythm; it prevents and may reverse symptoms of congestive heart failure. Statins and blood pressure pills deplete this nutrient.
The recommended dosage ranges from 50 mg-200 mg daily (in divided doses – 50 mg four times a day, or 100 mg twice daily). Start with a lower amount and give it a week or two before upping your dosage. You can take a lower dose of the more active form, ubiquinol – about 100 mg daily.
L-carnitine. This amino acid works in tandem with CoQ10 and helps prevent premature ventricular contractions (a kind of abnormal heart rhythm). It’s also a potential treatment for intermittent claudication (artery disease leading to leg pain). If you can find it, a version called propionyl-L-carnitine targets the heart. Take 1,000-3,000 mg per day in divided doses.
Taurine. The most abundant amino acid in the heart, taurine protects it by stabilizing membranes, reducing free radicals and helping prevent arrhythmias. A deficiency may be a contributing factor in heart attack risk.
Take 500-3,000 mg per day – some studies suggest more is OK, but using the lowest effective dose is best.
Magnesium glycinate or “chelate.” Magnesium therapy lowers blood pressure, reduces risk of stroke, and boosts the electrical circuitry of the heart. It’s useful for people with angina and atherosclerosis.
Have your intracellular level checked – ask for a “RBC magnesium” level. Take 600-800 mg daily. If oral supplements bother you, apply Ancient Minerals Magnesium Oil – a topical form that goes through the skin into your bloodstream.
Arginine. This amino acid works in tandem with taurine; it widens the blood vessels, allowing more blood flow throughout the body. It’s sold widely in the U.S., sometimes under the brand name Perfusia.
Ribose. A naturally occurring sugar that the body uses to make ATP, your energy molecule. Ribose improves blood flow and provides much-needed oxygen to the heart.
Patients with heart failure, chronic coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathy should take D-ribose to offset the energy-draining effects of inotropic drugs such as digoxin.
People who are weak, constantly fatigued or short of breath, including those with congestive heart failure, could benefit too. I buy Jarrow powder that I use in smoothies – it tastes great. The dosage is 1-3 scoops per day.
Fish Oils. They help reduce inflammatory compounds in the body, reduce triglycerides and regulate production of cholesterol. Dosage varies widely, from 500-5,000 mg daily.
Want to know more? Get your own copy of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Drug Muggers: How To Keep Your Medicine From Stealing the Life Out of You! Plus, meet Dr. Suzy Cohen.
No comments:
Post a Comment