Taking supplements that combine vitamin D and calcium could hike your risk of stroke, study finds

Supplements are being increasingly consumed by people with the boom in the health and wellness industry. These can be beneficial for those who are unable to meet their daily vitamin requirement through food due to any underlying health condition.

Supplements combining calcium with vitamin D are usually taken to aid bone health by older people. However, research suggests this could be putting your health at risk instead.

Researchers have found that this combination in supplements could cause atherosclerosis, a disease that occurs when fatty substances build up in the arteries.

If left untreated this can block the flow of blood to the heart or brain, which can lead to a stroke or heart attack.

The study by US scientists, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine journal in 2019, found a link between strokes and certain types of pills that combine vitamin D and calcium.

The team reviewed 277 randomised controlled trials that involved almost one million people. They analysed the effect of 16 different supplements and eight different diets on mortality and the heart.

The shocking findings show that supplements made up of vitamin D and calcium increased the risk of stroke by 17 percent.

Doctor Safi Khan, who led the research at West Virginia University, explained: “A combination of calcium and vitamin D was associated with a higher risk of stroke. Other supplements did not seem to have significant effect on mortality or cardiovascular outcomes.”

The study said, “Calcium plus vitamin D increased the risk for stroke. Other nutritional supplements, such as vitamin B6, vitamin A, multivitamins, antioxidants, and iron and dietary interventions, such as reduced fat intake, had no significant effect on mortality or cardiovascular disease outcomes.”

Adults need around 700mg of calcium a day, and you should be able to get enough from your daily diet. Here are some foods rich in calcium:

• Milk, cheese and other dairy products
• Green, leafy vegetables such as kale and okra
• Soya drinks with added calcium
• Bread and anything made with fortified flour
• Fish where you eat the bones, such as sardines and pilchards

Vitamin D is mainly absorbed through sunlight. You can also increase your vitamin D intake through these foods:

• Oily fish such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel
• Red meat
• Liver
• Egg yolks
• Fortified foods such as some breakfast cereals

Often, vitamin deficiency is due to consuming an unhealthy diet which is low in vitamin-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, poultry, and seafood.

Medical conditions can affect your absorption of vitamins. These include alcoholic liver disease, liver failure, kidney disease, chronic diarrhea. malabsorption syndrome, gastric bypass, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome and pernicious anemia.

The main symptoms of stroke are as follows:

Face: Their face may have dropped on one side or they may not be able to smile. Their mouth or eye can also drop.

Arms: The person may not be able to lift their arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness.

Speech: Their speech may be slurred or they may not be able to talk despite appearing to be awake. They may also have problems understanding what you're saying.