A relatively recent research study found a significant association between calcium supplements and brain lesions in older adults:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4144340/

An excerpt from the article:

“This study indicates that the use of calcium-containing dietary supplements, even low dose supplements, by older adults may be associated with greater lesion volumes.”

Previous studies have shown that calcium supplements are also associated with greater risk of heart attack and heart related diseases.

I stopped taking any additional calcium supplements about five years ago, and now get all of my calcium from food sources.

This is very interesting... thanks for finding this and sharing it here.

Yes, mrsD, the findings from this research study were certainly interesting and also a bit alarming. I hope more studies are done to see if these findings are replicated.

Although enough studies have been done by now to show calcium supplements are dangerous, one problem is that many doctors still recommend them for patients. One of my friends has osteopenia, and her doctor insists that she take calcium supplements to prevent development of osteoporosis.

What I think may happen, is what happens with another electrolyte given in supplement form which may cause problems of another kind too.

Potassium given in supplement form floods the body quickly
and may cause brief overages in the serum.

Giving calcium seems to do this too. With Potassium, excess is temporarily stored in the bowel...to be reabsorbed later. But there is no place for this excess calcium to go, so it becomes spurs on bones, or perhaps lines the blood vessels, or calcifies the organs?

The trick is to normalize Vit D, which will allow FOOD sourced and bound calcium better absorption, along with the balancing effects of magnesium too. Then the calcium will be absorbed slowly and not flood the serum too quickly. Calcium in food is limited and smaller than taking supplements.

I saw an interesting science show on TV... illustrating S.American post menopausal women making their food tortillas with lime powder... they were outside alot and consumed this calcium in this food form daily. And they had NO appreciable osteoporosis or osteopenia. They were getting good sun exposure to provide Vit D to then enhance the absorption of calcium and magnesium from their foods. They also ate lots of beans which are good providers of magnesium.