Increased risk of AMD linked with high calcium supplementation

A recent cross-sectional study of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data revealed an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration among those who consumed more than 800 mg/day of calcium supplements. Researchers had previously found a link between high levels of calcium supplementation and glaucoma. Researchers evaluated data from the 2007-2008 survey, which involved almost 3,200 participants. What they found was that those participants who consumed more than 800 mg/day of calcium supplements were 85% more likely to be diagnosed with macular degeneration. However, the increased risk was limited to those who were 68 years or older and the link was not significant in those between the ages of 40 and 67. Researchers declined to make any new recommendations regarding calcium supplementation because further data analyses are needed. The limitations of this particular study prohibits making any blanket claims regarding the link between calcium supplementation and macular degeneration.*