Calcium supplements concern

I had one lobe of my thyroid removed abt 28 years ago. I remember being told that my parathyroid on that side would be removed also and that post-op my calcium levels would be checked to make sure that my parathyroid on the other side was functioning, if not, then, in addition to levothyroxin, I would be taking calcium for the rest of my life. In my case, my calcium levels checked out and I have only been on the levothyroxin. When you have a total thyroidectomy both parathyroids come out too, because, even though they are completely different glands, they are located like right on the thyroids. Here are two articles that speak to how parathyroids are monitored after thyroidectomy, and the function of the parathyroids. I don't think you fall into the same category as people taking calcium as a supplement for their bone health. https://medicine.uiowa.edu/iowaprotocols/calcium-management-thyroidectomy-patients-hypocalcemia and http://www.parathyroid.com/parathyroid-function.htm I am not a medical professional, just interested in these little glands that I didn't even know existed until I had one removed. You should ask your doctor about in your particular case whether your prescription for calcium presents a danger to your heart.

Yes, there is a limit to how much total calcium you should get each day (check w/ your doc, but for pre-meno women, I believe the total target, including food, it 1200 mg. For post-meno, I believe it's 1300-1400 mg.) So if your diet is already high in calcium 500 mg may be too much. Also, taking a lot at once can be a problem. I've heard you should only take 500 mg at once or it can get stored in your veins or heart tissue. Maybe that's where you heard the 500 mg number. In practical terms, this means if you eat a meal high in calcium, you may want to take your supplement at another time of day.

1. Calcium is not given “for thyroid" per se, without more, but for hypoparathyroidism (associated with damage during thyroidectomy or autoimmune) or for osteoporosis/penia or prevention thereof, and in a few other scenarios.

Nicola, do you have hypoparathyrodisim, either from surgery or autoimmune? These are rare. In that case you need adequate calcium from diet or supplements, along with calcitriol (active 1,25 vitamin D) to maintain a low normal blood calcium (too much and there may be kidney stone risk in hypopara).

2.

As for the controversy about cardiovascular risk with calcium in the usual scenarios, e.g., OP, affecting millions of people, the latest party line from bone experts like ASBMR and NOF, is there is no convincing evidence of risk, more the opposite, within limits of intake (and close to what Peggy said), though dietary calcium is preferable if possible. Calcium intake remains a mainstay of osteoporosis management as a building block for bone, balancing risk and benefit.

3. Here is a powerpoint for the hardcore. To cut to the chase, go to the last few slides showing conclusions. Of course, more research is always needed.

https://medicine.yale.edu/lab/insogna/Andrea%20Singer%20Calcium%20Presentation%20at%20Yale%20Jan%2013%202017_290285_1095_5_v1.pdf

Best,

CP

No study I know of shows benefit from calcium for bones or thyroid; possibly (and now debated) negative for arteries.

Bluepearl --

https://www.bones.nih.gov/health-info/bone/osteoporosis/background/asian-women-guide

https://www.everydayhealth.com/osteoporosis/osteoporosis-across-cultures.aspx

http://womensguide.org/osteoporosis/asian-american.html

https://www.nof.org/preventing-fractures/general-facts/what-women-need-to-know/#asianamerican