My Onc told me to start taking Calcium/vitamin d supplements when I began Letrozole 5 1/2 weeks ago, but having read recently the issues of heart disease caused by added calcium, I don’t think I want to. What’s everyone’s opinion please

Hi @Doodoo there was a really interesting program on SBS I think it was the other night re vitamins and suppliements by a scientist who has been studying it for years and along with other experts in their field. The gist was that best to get everything through food and veg and there is a bigger danger now with some of the super strength supplements like vitamin C causing problems added to the fact most of us already get our daily dose just through food. They also had a big question mark on antioxidants and the goodness of them. The big surprise was about all the extracts out on the market now like green tea extract which has been proven to cause liver and kidney damage and there is currently no strict regulations or checks on these extracts being developed. Their summing up was to get a blood test done to see if you are deficient in anything and only take what you need. I am like you though Doodoo I am 6 weeks on femara now and I do wonder what to take. I am just taking probiotics and kefir milk which @kmakm suggested and is making a huge difference with my digestion and gut.( thanks Kate)

From my understanding it's the calcium tablets that have a bit of a rethink. I was alarmingly low in Vitamin D when I first checked (blood tests fine,no other deficiencies), and many Australian women are - it may not only be your diet (I thought mine was pretty healthy), it may be partly to do with less time in the sun. All sorts of benefits re skins, skin cancer etc, but human beings were designed for sunlight and too little has a negative effect too. I burn easily and stay covered, so that's part of the problem. I have however shrunk my calcium tablet intake, as I think I get enough from low fat milk and yoghurt. As I am on femara and my bones are definitely showing the impact (but not osteoporotic yet) I am wary of not keeping my calcium levels sufficient for bone purposes, eating healthily is unlikely to fully offset the femara all by itself. Swings and roundabouts!

I'm too stuffed to research tonight, but I think the issue with calcium supplements centres around the two different sorts of meds prescribed for hypertension. Gargh, my brain is porridge. It's worth checking if the problem is the mineral or an interaction with a commonly prescribed drug. I'll check.

My thoughts are that any supplements are only beneficial if you are deficient in those vitamins or minerals. You can have your levels checked to give you an idea. I have been on Letrozole for just over 3 years. I had my Vit D level checked a few times and it has been fine. As for calcium, the new recommendations are that it is far better to get your calcium through a balanced diet (because of the issue with supplements and heart issues). I see a dietician as part of my monitoring of bone density. She has helped to guide me to ensure my calcium intake through food is enough for me. As I understand it there is more to bone health then just Vit D and calcium. Magnesium and Vit K are also important for example. Weight bearing and impact exercise is also very important. I am more comfortable with the idea of eating well to ensure adequate levels and getting a little sunshine each day for my Vit D. But some people need supplements if they have issues such as dairy intolerance etc or their lifestyle limits their ability to get enough Vit D.I hope this helps you work out what might be the right thing for you. I hope that the Letrozole goes ok for you. Take care. xxx

Calcium supplements or not? | BCNA Online Network

17 Replies

primek
Member
7 years ago
Just ensure you have Vitamin D levels checked and eat adequate calciun. The supliment is more than calcium. It has other minerals for bone health also.
Doin_it
Member
7 years ago
Grew up on a dairy farm
Doin_it
Member
7 years ago
I love dairy 😊
Sister
Member
7 years ago
I quite like dairy so I've given up on the calcium supplements and just making sure that I get too much of that until I see the onc at the end of January. I'll see what he has to say about it.
Doin_it
Member
7 years ago
Interesting! Thanks @kmakm. Hope you’re having an amazing time in o/s xx
kmakm
Member
7 years ago
My oncologist told me that the cardiologists had become unhappy with calcium supplements, and that calcium is one of the most easily absorbed nutrients from food. Four serves a day are recommended for menopausal women.
Doin_it
Member
7 years ago
My brain is porridge too! Thanks
Zoffiel
Member
7 years ago
I'm too stuffed to research tonight, but I think the issue with calcium supplements centres around the two different sorts of meds prescribed for hypertension. Gargh, my brain is porridge. It's worth checking if the problem is the mineral or an interaction with a commonly prescribed drug. I'll check.
Doin_it
Member
7 years ago
Yep, the good old days.
I’d prefer to go out to my vege garden & pick delicious fresh pesticide free veges than take pills for vitamins. That’s for sure
Afraser
Member
7 years ago
Ah the good old days when you never took any pills. Or went to the doctor. And only had one anyway. You knew your blood was red, bones were hard and not much else. I have relatively little ailing me but I still seem to have a consultation of medical consultants, a pill box and too many prescriptions!!