OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between oral calcium supplementation and coronary artery calcification among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients without known cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: This study was conducted as a nested, prospective cohort study of RA patients without known CVD. The daily supplemental calcium dose was ascertained from each patients' list of prescription and over-the-counter medications at baseline and at visit 2 (median 20 months postbaseline). The coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, a measure of coronary atherosclerosis, was assessed by cardiac multidetector row computed tomography at baseline and at visit 3 (median 39 months postbaseline). The association between calcium supplementation and CAC was explored. RESULTS: Among the 145 RA patients studied, 42 (28%) were taking ≥1,000 mg/day of supplemental calcium at baseline. A CAC score of >100 units was seen in 44 patients (30%) at baseline and 50 patients (34%) at followup. Baseline CAC scores of >100 units were significantly less frequent in patients receiving the higher dosage (≥1,000 mg/day) of supplemental calcium than in those receiving the lower dosage (<1,000 mg/day) (odds ratio [OR] 0.28, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.11-0.74); this association remained significant after adjustment for relevant confounders (adjusted OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.09-0.93). Similarly, at the third study visit, CAC scores of >100 units were less frequent in the higher supplemental calcium dose group compared to the lower dose group (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.18-0.95); however, after adjustment for relevant confounders, the statistical significance of this association was lost (adjusted OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.14-1.12). No effect of sex heterogeneity was seen in the association of calcium supplementation with coronary artery calcification, and no change in the CAC score over time was observed. CONCLUSION: Higher levels of oral calcium supplementation were not associated with an increased risk of coronary atherosclerosis, as measured by the CAC score, in this RA cohort.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between oral calcium supplementation and coronary artery calcification among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients without known cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: This study was conducted as a nested, prospective cohort study of RApatients without known CVD. The daily supplemental calcium dose was ascertained from each patients' list of prescription and over-the-counter medications at baseline and at visit 2 (median 20 months postbaseline). The coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, a measure of coronary atherosclerosis, was assessed by cardiac multidetector row computed tomography at baseline and at visit 3 (median 39 months postbaseline). The association between calcium supplementation and CAC was explored. RESULTS: Among the 145 RApatients studied, 42 (28%) were taking ≥1,000 mg/day of supplemental calcium at baseline. A CAC score of >100 units was seen in 44 patients (30%) at baseline and 50 patients (34%) at followup. Baseline CAC scores of >100 units were significantly less frequent in patients receiving the higher dosage (≥1,000 mg/day) of supplemental calcium than in those receiving the lower dosage (<1,000 mg/day) (odds ratio [OR] 0.28, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.11-0.74); this association remained significant after adjustment for relevant confounders (adjusted OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.09-0.93). Similarly, at the third study visit, CAC scores of >100 units were less frequent in the higher supplemental calcium dose group compared to the lower dose group (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.18-0.95); however, after adjustment for relevant confounders, the statistical significance of this association was lost (adjusted OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.14-1.12). No effect of sex heterogeneity was seen in the association of calcium supplementation with coronary artery calcification, and no change in the CAC score over time was observed. CONCLUSION: Higher levels of oral calcium supplementation were not associated with an increased risk of coronary atherosclerosis, as measured by the CAC score, in this RA cohort.
Authors: Regan L Bailey; Jaime J Gahche; Cindy V Lentino; Johanna T Dwyer; Jody S Engel; Paul R Thomas; Joseph M Betz; Christopher T Sempos; Mary Frances Picciano Journal: J Nutr Date: 2010-12-22 Impact factor: 4.798
Authors: Tom K M Wang; Mark J Bolland; Niels C van Pelt; Anne M Horne; Barbara H Mason; Ruth W Ames; Andrew B Grey; Peter N Ruygrok; Greg D Gamble; Ian R Reid Journal: J Bone Miner Res Date: 2010-07-16 Impact factor: 6.741
Authors: F C Arnett; S M Edworthy; D A Bloch; D J McShane; J F Fries; N S Cooper; L A Healey; S R Kaplan; M H Liang; H S Luthra Journal: Arthritis Rheum Date: 1988-03
Authors: Paulo J Nicola; Cynthia S Crowson; Hilal Maradit-Kremers; Karla V Ballman; Véronique L Roger; Steven J Jacobsen; Sherine E Gabriel Journal: Arthritis Rheum Date: 2006-01
Authors: Rebecca D Jackson; Andrea Z LaCroix; Margery Gass; Robert B Wallace; John Robbins; Cora E Lewis; Tamsen Bassford; Shirley A A Beresford; Henry R Black; Patricia Blanchette; Denise E Bonds; Robert L Brunner; Robert G Brzyski; Bette Caan; Jane A Cauley; Rowan T Chlebowski; Steven R Cummings; Iris Granek; Jennifer Hays; Gerardo Heiss; Susan L Hendrix; Barbara V Howard; Judith Hsia; F Allan Hubbell; Karen C Johnson; Howard Judd; Jane Morley Kotchen; Lewis H Kuller; Robert D Langer; Norman L Lasser; Marian C Limacher; Shari Ludlam; JoAnn E Manson; Karen L Margolis; Joan McGowan; Judith K Ockene; Mary Jo O'Sullivan; Lawrence Phillips; Ross L Prentice; Gloria E Sarto; Marcia L Stefanick; Linda Van Horn; Jean Wactawski-Wende; Evelyn Whitlock; Garnet L Anderson; Annlouise R Assaf; David Barad Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2006-02-16 Impact factor: 91.245