There are many health benefits ofcalcium, such as strengthening bones, but it could be heart-friendly, too. Some studies are finding that calcium lowers cholesterol.
diego_cervo / Getty Images
Calcium’s ability to lowercholesterolhas been known for several years. Calcium supplements have been shown to slightly reduce blood pressure in some studies. Lowering cholesterol levels is the most recent finding, but studies are mixed about whether or not it really works.
How Does Calcium Lower Cholesterol?
What Do the Studies Suggest?
How Much Calcium You Need
While there have been some studies that suggest that elemental calcium may slightly lower cholesterol, there are other studies that suggest calcium has no significant effect on cholesterol.Because of this, using solely calcium to lower your cholesterol is not recommended. If you are looking to add calcium to your health regimen, you should consult with your healthcare provider.
The recommended daily allowance for elemental calcium in adults is between 1000 and 1300 mg a day, with diet—rather than supplements—being the preferred source of calcium. This is roughly the same amount used in some of the studies looking at calcium’s ability to lower cholesterol.
Calcium content is high in foods such as dairy products, leafy greens, and citrus fruits; however, supplements containing calcium are also widely available. If you are taking calcium supplements, keep in mind that these studies measured elemental calcium, so be sure and read the labels of your calcium supplements to determine the amount of elemental calcium in each product. And more isn’t necessarily better—consuming too much calcium could lead to health problems.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Reid IR, Bolland MJ.Calcium supplements: bad for the heart?.Heart. 98(12):895-896. doi:10.1136/heartjnl-2012-301904
Jesch ED, Carr TP.Food ingredients that inhibit cholesterol absorption.Prev Nutr Food Sci. 22(2):67-80. doi:10.3746/pnf.2017.22.2.67
Reid I, Mason B, Horne A, et al.Effects of calcium supplementation on serum lipid concentrations in normal older women.The American Journal of Medicine. 112(5):343-347. doi:10.1016/S0002-9343(01)01138-X
Torres M, Sanjuliani A.Does calcium intake affect cardiovascular risk factors and/or events?.Clinics. 67(7):839-844. doi:10.6061/clinics/2012(07)22
Li S, Na L, Li Y, et al.Long-term calcium supplementation may have adverse effects on serum cholesterol and carotid intima-media thickness in postmenopausal women: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 98(5):1353-1359. doi:10.3945/ajcn.113.062844
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Daily value on the new nutrition and supplement fact labels.
Li K, Wang XF, Li DY, et al.The good, the bad, and the ugly of calcium supplementation: a review of calcium intake on human health.Clin Interv Aging. 13:2443-2452. doi:10.2147/CIA.S157523
Dipiro JT, Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiological Approach., 9th edition. McGraw Hill Education .
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
