Ask the doctor: Calcium supplements: Not routinely recommended
Dairy products are good sources of calcium.
It's true that calcium deposits are also found in plaque that builds up in our arteries, including those that supply blood to the heart. In fact, heart disease screening tests known as coronary calcium scans are used to detect calcium buildup in the arteries, because plaque is often present where the arteries are calcified. However, the calcium deposits are a response to the injury caused by cholesterol and fatty substances that make up coronary plaque. Some observational studies suggest that taking calcium supplements can contribute to this process and raise cardiovascular risk, but those data are rather weak. Still, I don't recommend that people take calcium supplements routinely unless specifically recommended by a physician.
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