According to foreign media reports, Swedish researchers have discovered that adequate dietary calcium supplementation may help extend lifespan. Over the 10-year study period, men who obtained the most calcium from food sources experienced a 25% lower mortality risk compared to those with the lowest dietary calcium intake. None of the study participants took additional calcium supplements.
The study was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. This finding aligns with previous research showing lower mortality risks among both men and women with higher calcium intake. While many researchers have explored the relationship between calcium and magnesium intake and chronic disease risks, little is known about the link between dietary intake of these nutrients and mortality rates.Joanna Karuza and colleagues at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm conducted a 10-year follow-up study of 23,000 Swedish men aged 45 to 79. All participants reported their diets at the study's outset; approximately 2,358 died during the decade-long study period.
Compared to those with the lowest dietary calcium intake, men with the highest calcium intake had a 25% lower risk of all-cause mortality. Furthermore, they exhibited a 23% reduced risk of death from heart disease during the follow-up period. Calcium intake showed no significant effect on cancer mortality risk. Men with the highest calcium intake averaged nearly 2000 milligrams per day, while those with the lowest intake averaged 1000 milligrams daily.The U.S. Dietary Reference Intakes recommend 1,000 mg daily for men aged 19 to 50 and 1,200 mg for men aged 50 and older. Karuza and colleagues concluded, "Calcium intake exceeding the daily recommended amount may reduce all-cause mortality." They noted calcium could influence mortality through multiple mechanisms, such as lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, or blood sugar levels.For the men in the study, the primary dietary sources of calcium were milk, dairy products, and grain products. Magnesium intake was not associated with all-cause mortality or deaths from cancer or heart disease. Participants' daily magnesium intake ranged from approximately 400 mg to about 525 mg. The RDA for magnesium for men aged 31 and older is 420 mg.
Researchers noted that the analysis suggested magnesium may have limited impact on mortality because all men in the study appeared to obtain sufficient magnesium from their diets. They stated, "Further studies involving individuals with inadequate magnesium intake are needed to clarify this issue." The researchers added that the amount of calcium and magnesium obtained from drinking water—a potential significant source of these minerals—also warrants investigation.