Statement of the Problem
The relationship between dietary calcium intake and cardiovascular diseases has long been a matter of professional concern. The problem to be discussed in this paper is whether dietary calcium intake is related to mortality from cardiovascular diseases.
Background of the Problem
For many years, calcium intake was promoted as a useful measure to avoid the lack of calcium in the human organism, to improve bone health and reduce the incidence of health complications in the elderly (Xiao et al. E1). However, recently, researchers have started to raise new concerns regarding the potentially adverse impacts of increased calcium intake on cardiovascular health (Bolland et al. c3691). As a result, Xiao et al. designed a prospective study to investigate the association between dietary and supplemental calcium intake and the rates of mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and heart disease (E1).
Two Primary Article Reviews
The scientific journal article was published by Xiao et al. in JAMA Internal Medicine in April, 2013. In this article, Xiao et al. reported the results of their study, which had been performed to analyze the relationship between dietary and supplemental calcium intake and the rates of mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular diseases in the elderly. Xiao et al. designed a prospective study, which was performed in the period between 1995 and 1996.
A total of 388,299 participants were included in the sample (E2). According to Xiao et al., they traced the development of cardiovascular diseases in patients aged 50-71 over the 12 years of follow-up and discovered that “high intake of supplemental calcium is associated with an excess risk of CVD death in men but not in women” (E1). In other words, the relation of calcium intake to cardiovascular diseases is related to gender.
The results of the study were also reported in USA Today. It should be noted, that the popular article by Hellmich provides an accurate and trustworthy report of the study results by Xiao et al. (E1). Hellmich reports the most essential findings of Xiao et al., including the fact that the relationship between calcium intake and cardiovascular complications is associated with gender. It is interesting to note that Hellmich goes even further and provides the claims of other nutrition specialists, which support the findings of Xiao et al. In addition, Hellmich provides recommendations to help children and adults manage the daily intake of calcium and avoid the risks of cardiovascular complications.
Summary of the Data
The data by Xiao et al. show that 70% of women and 51% of men used supplemental calcium intake, which resulted in increased levels of cardiovascular deaths (Xiao et al. E4). Hellmich also reported the number of the sample participants and the period of the study. However, the popular article does not provide any statistical data, to make it readable and understandable to the audience. The accuracy of the popular report does not raise any questions, even though no statistical data are provided.
Accuracy of the Popular Article and Peer-Reviewed Conclusions
As mentioned earlier, the popular article by Hellmich is a rare example of an accurate and solid report. The author of the article provides an interesting and comprehensive interpretation of the study results that is intended for a non-professional audience. The significance of the study is yet to be determined, but it is clear that its results can become a useful guidance for thousands of older patients and help them avoid cardiovascular problems due to excessive dietary calcium intake.
Works Cited
Bolland, Mark J., Alison Avenell, John A. Baron, Andrew Grey, Graeme S. MacLennan, Greg D. Gamble & Ian R. Reid. “Effect of Calcium Supplements on Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Cardiovascular Events: Meta-Analysis.” British Journal of Medicine, 341 (2010): c3691.
Hellmich, Nanci. “Calcium Supplements May Be Bad for a Man’s Heart.” USA Today, 2013. Web.
Xiao, Qian, Rachel A. Murphy, Denise K. Houston, Tamara B. Harris, W.H. Chow & Yikung Park. “Dietary and Supplemental Calcium Intake and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality.” JAMA Internal Medicine, 173.8 (2013): E1-E8. Print.