Calcium and Cardiovascular Disease

A new meta-analysis presented at the 2014 World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, and Musculoskeletal Disease found no association with between calcium supplementation with and without vitamin D, and cardiovascular disease. This is in contrast to a 2010 meta-analysis published in BMJ, which found an increase in cardiovascular disease in those who supplemented calcium without vitamin D. The earlier study had several flaws, one of which that it included many more men in the supplemented group and relied on self-reporting. Women and men at risk for osteoporosis who are not getting enough in their diets (1000 mg/day pre-menopausal, 1200-1500/day post-menopausal), should supplement with calcium, magnesium, vitamin D3, and vitamin K2 together up to those maximum amounts. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and that includes dairy might require only 300 mg/day of calcium, whereas a diet that did not include dairy might require 600 mg/day. Most people who are eating a good diet will be getting most of their calcium from their diet and will only require minimal supplementation if they're at risk for osteoporosis. 

A functional medicine practitioner should be able to analyze your diet and determine if and how much you need to supplement.