Studies show increased risks when taking calcium supplements/PPI's

I went to my GI a couple weeks ago, and a study had come out 2 days prior to my visit saying that people who take calcium supplements rather than making sure they get adequate calcium in their diet have an increased risk of heart attacks. My GI basically told me that if someone can intake extra calcium in their diet, it is the preferred way to get calcium.

I don't want to scare any of you, but let you all know about this because it's so recent a study. It seems that right when people start getting on board and making sure they take all the right vitamin supplements, some study comes out and makes you afraid to take vitamin supplements. So my question, after giving it some thought, is...would I rather have osteoporosis and end up an old lady with a hunchback and lots of bone pain because my bones aren't strong, or have a heart attack because I have strong bones and never broke a single one? That's my way of looking at it. What do you think?

Since seeing my GI I've tried to eat yogurt, milk, etc to get calcium rather than taking calcium chews like I was before. Maybe in a year they'll come back and say the opposite (kinda like the age old margarine vs butter that goes back and forth and back and forth on which one is better/worse for you)

Also, another study (my GI keeps up to date on studies, can you tell??) has alerted doctors who have patients on PPI's (nexium, prilosec, etc.) long term. Apparently when on these meds long term, your risk of having wrist, hip and spine fractures is increased. My dr didn't really have an opinion about this as it was only one study (I believe), however, she did try to persuade me to lower my dose of omeprazole (generic prilosec) from 40mg a day to 20mg a day. So far because of hospitalization last week I haven't been able to try. My plan was to take 40mg one day, then 20mg the next, but I get worse heartburn when taking narcotics so I haven't tried to reduce until I'm not taking lortab regularly. Obviously doctors won't just take prescriptions for PPI's away from patients because it would be cruel to withhold meds from someone with obvious reflux problems. It's more of a "oh, PPI's have been used now for some time, and we're starting to put pieces together and see that there might be other risks we didn't know about at first"

I personally think we all just need to avoid falling...that way we don't fracture things...OR like in my dreams of the future, we'll all travel around in bubbles kinda like hamster balls to prevent spreading germs and keep us safe from injury (this amuses me quite a bit to picture in my mind!) I'm rambling now, so I'll stop typing!

I would be interested to know if any of you who have seen your GI's recently have heard about these risks??

This is exactly why I posted!!! Thanks for your response. I tend to get one track minded and can't think outside the box as to what other things might explain the studies, so it really helps to hear someone else's thoughts.

Bring on the thoughts...raise the quota to 3 a year! LOL :)

I saw a print out about this at my rheumy's office last week and it said that the increased chance of heart attack is only in patients who take calcium supplements that do not contain vitamin D as well.  They don't see the increased risk if you take vitamin D supplements, so make sure your calcium also has vitamin D in it...the ones I take do. 

Actually, I should have provided links, and I apologize for not doing that.

I will be seeing my endocrinologist soon and will ask him his opinion on what I, as a CD patient with osteopenia and vitamin D deficiency should be doing. I'll let you know what he thinks.

Out of curiosity, jpnutritionfirst are you a nutritionist, or do you work in a medical field, or do you just research a lot on your own?

I talked to the pa at the drs office about as I was there today for followup. She said there was not enough evidence with this study for her to tell me to come off of the supplements. Mine is with Vitamin D and I have been on full dose of Entocort since May so there is worry about osteoporosis. Another good tip for people who are concerned is if you are strong enough do weight bearing exercises. I weight train twice a week now and have read that it is great for your bones.

I've read A LOT of stuff that debunks the China Study . See a good analysis at http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/cancer/the-china-study-vs-the-china-study/ . Also, http://rawfoodsos.com/2010/07/07/the-china-study-fact-or-fallac/ . For "The China Study Smackdown Roundup", go to http://freetheanimal.com/2010/07/the-china-study-smackdown-roundup.html .

EDIT: Summary of the analysis at rawfoodssos.com:

"In sum, “The China Study” is a compelling collection of carefully chosen data. Unfortunately for both health seekers and the scientific community, Campbell appears to exclude relevant information when it indicts plant foods as causative of disease, or when it shows potential benefits for animal products. This presents readers with a strongly misleading interpretation of the original China Study data, as well as a slanted perspective of nutritional research from other arenas (including some that Campbell himself conducted)."

well, for post menopausal women, you can take all the calcium you want and still get osteoporosis. It's the lack of estrogen that keeps us from utilizing the calcium from what I've been told.