The Checkup: Is Too Much Calcium a Bad Thing?

Recent studies raise concern that taking in too much calcium could increase your risk for cardiac and kidney problems.


• Fact: Your body can handle about 600 milligrams of calcium at once. Any extra could wind up causing kidney stones or, worse, calcifying in the arteries and creating all kinds of cardiac problems, according to a few recent studies. NPR reports that while the studies are preliminary and more research is needed, “they do raise the question about whether there’s potentially some danger in over-the-counter calcium supplements that go beyond our usual dietary intake of calcium.” Your best bet? Stick with dietary sources of calcium instead of resorting to supplements, says a doctor quoted in the piece. So I want to know: Will you lay off your supplements?

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