A new study shows that Calcium and Vitamin D may not help to reduce levels of cholesterol.
High levels of bad cholesterol and other harmful lipids (dangerous blood fats) have been shown to boost the risk of various cardiovascular diseases which are the cause of millions of deaths worldwide.
This is the main reason why medical researchers are eager to discover anything that can help cut down cholesterol levels.
Calcium is thought by some to interfere with the body’s ability to absorb lipids and may even assist the breakdowns of these fats. Vitamin-D is also thought to be beneficial. However, a new study headed by Dr. Swapnil Rajpathak of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York found no statistical connection between Calcium and Vitamin-D consumption to a lower Cholesterol levels.
The study encompassed 1,191 post-menopausal women from the Women’s Health Initiative. About half of these women were given a daily supplement of calcium (1000 milligrams) plus vitamin D (400 IU). The rest of the study group took identical-looking placebos.
After 5 years of this regimen, the women were tested for levels of Cholesterol and lipids. The differences of lipid and cholesterol levels between both groups were minimal. There appeared to be no effect of the Calcium and Vitamin-D supplementation on bad Cholesterol.
Naturally, this study may not be relevant for men or for younger women. In addition, there may be need of further studies for the effects of Calcium or Vitamin-D alone, without the other.
However, this study is contested. A Dr. Reid, who held a smaller study in 2004 which significant benefits for calcium supplementation alone: a potential reduction of up to 30 percent in the risk of suffering a cardiovascular episode.
There may be a yet unknown benefit to Calcium that may help ward off cardiovascular disease in some way that is not connected to Cholesterol levels. In addition, Calcium and Vitamin-D both have other major health benefits which include bone and nail health.
As to cholesterol, you should always maintain a healthy diet routine and workout regularly to keep your cholesterol level in check.
Source: Reuters Health
