Does too Much Calcium Cause High Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is defined as the force exerted on artery walls by blood as it flows through your body. Blood pressure readings provide two numbers: systolic and diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is measured while the art is pumping. Diastolic pressure is measured in between heartbeats, while the blood is returning to the heart.
High blood pressure can lead to blot clots, stroke, diabetes and heart attacks. A person may not be aware of high blood pressure until symptoms present.
There are many causes of high blood pressure, including genetics, diet and obesity. A body's intake of calcium can also affect blood pressure. Generally, calcium is helpful in preventing high blood pressure, but certain exceptions exist for those on high blood pressure medication.

Low Calcium and Blood Pressure

• A recent study, led by Lu Wang, M.D., Ph.D., of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and cited by the American Heart Association, demonstrated that those who have a low calcium intake may be at risk for high blood pressure. The Dietary Reference Intake guidelines suggest that adults consume 1,000 mg of calcium daily. For adults 50 years of age and older, this dosage is raised to 1,200 mg a day.
  The link between low calcium and high blood pressure suggests that those consuming 8000 mg of calcium daily have a 23 percent smaller chance of developing high blood pressure than individuals consuming 400 mg of calcium or less on a daily basis.

Calcium and High Blood Pressure

• Too much calcium does not cause high blood pressure, and in fact the opposite may be true and higher amounts of calcium may result in lower blood pressure.
  According to the American Heart Association, scientists believe that high calcium intake can reduce hormone and antioxidant levels. Thus, high calcium intake can actually reduce the amount of calcium that goes into the blood cells. More fat is metabolized within the cell, and the cells generate less fat- resulting in less stress on the arteries and heart and lower blood pressure.
  However, the American Heart Association cautions that Vitamin D works hand in hand with calcium, and appropriate levels of vitamin D are required for the metabolism and absorption of calcium. Thus, while studies indicate that higher amounts of calcium and dairy products result in lower blood pressure, studies caution that sufficient vitamin D must be a part of the diet as well.

Calcium from Milk

• The American Heart Association has reported that women who consume more low-fat or fat free milk products, and/or had diets high in calcium, were far less likely to suffer from high blood pressure than women with lower calcium levels in their diets. The results demonstrated that women who consumed two or more servings of fat free milk daily reduced their risk of developing high blood pressure by 10 percent compared to women who drank fat free milk once a month or less.

Calcium and Blood Pressure Medications

• While calcium can assist a person in keeping their blood pressure low, those on blood pressure medications need to be very careful about eating too much calcium, as calcium can have a negative interaction with blood pressure medications.
  Thiazide diuretics, including chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide and indapamide, are used to treat high blood pressure. Ingesting large amounts of calcium--generally defined as 1,500 milligrams or more--in food or supplement form while taking a thiazide diuretic can result in milk-alkali syndrome. Milk alkali syndrome is a dangerous condition caused by excessively high levels of calcium in the body, causing a shift of the acid-based balance to alklaine.
  Calcium channel blockers, including nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem are also prescribed to treat high blood pressure. Calcium taken intravenously may decrease the effectiveness of these medicines. However, there is no evidence that taking oral calcium supplements or eating calcium in food interferes with this medication.
  Calcium supplements or excessive calcium intake does not appear to interact with other high blood pressure medications, but patients should still check with their doctors if they intend to take a calcium supplement while on hypertension medication.

Sources of Calcium

• Calcium can be found in food or supplements. Dairy is an excellent source of calcium. Many orange juice products are also fortified with calcium. Calcium can also be found in leafy grains including kale, turnips, mustard greens and collard. Broccoli, canned salmon, tofu with calcium carbonate, and sardines can also be good sources of calcium.