The National Institutes of Health (NIH) also reported that calcium supplements have been linked to kidney stones and bloating in other studies, reports usatoday.com.
The study of approximately 24,000 people between the ages of 35 and 64 found that participants who took regular calcium supplements were 86% more likely to have a heart attack than those who didn't take supplements.
The primary objective of the study was to determine if calcium supplements modify cardiovascular risk factors. The researchers, who did not identify brands of supplements, found no direct link between the supplements and heart attacks, but stated that it could indirectly increase the risk factor.
Rearchers said supplements cause calcium levels to soar above the normal range, which increases the risk of heart attacks.
Nerw York Hospital for Special Surgery rheumatologist and osteoporosis specialist Linda Russell told USAtoday, "Other studies about calcium have been suggesting this in recent years, but maybe this study really should get doctors to rethink this approach."
For a postmenopausal woman between ages 51 and 70, the daily recommended dose range of calcium is 1,000 to 1,200mg, and after the age of 71, the requirement for men and women is 1,200mg, according to the NIH.
