Is calcium consumption at different times associated with cardiovascular disease?

In a recent study published in BMC Public Health, researchers investigated whether the quantity of calcium consumed at breakfast and dinner was associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading global cause of death and a prevalent chronic condition. Calcium, essential for various bodily functions, plays a key role in preventing and managing CVD by regulating blood vessels, muscle function, nerve activity, hormone production, fat levels, blood pressure, and lipids. Recent research indicates that calcium intake can influence physiological variations in circadian pacemaker-type neuronal cells and alter the expression of the biological clock genes.

In the study involving 36,164 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2013–2018), researchers examined how calcium intake timing affects cardiovascular disease risk. They categorized participants based on calcium intake during night and morning meals. The study focused on self-reported cardiovascular disease endpoints and considered various factors like age, sex, smoking, physical activity, and more. Using dietary replacement models, they analysed the impact of shifting 5.0% of calcium from dinner to morning consumption. Exclusions were made for specific demographics and dietary habits, and data were collected via 24-hour diet recalls at a testing facility.

The results showed that replacing 5.0% of calcium intake from dinner with breakfast reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk by 6.0% while maintaining total calcium intake. The circadian clock regulated various cardiovascular functions such as endothelial function, thrombus formation, blood pressure, and heart rate. Sleep enhanced calcium retention capacity. Circadian rhythms affect the inflammatory pathway, metabolism, and immune system adaptation.

The study suggested that individuals with high calcium intake during both dinner and breakfast were at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, emphasizing the importance of distributing calcium intake across meals. Additionally, there was a positive correlation found. Substituting 5.0% of calcium from dinner with an equivalent amount at breakfast decreased CVD risk by 6.0%.

Reference:Zhang, T., Zhuang, S., Yu, Y., et al., (2024) Association of dietary calcium intake at dinner versus breakfast with cardiovascular disease in U.S. adults: the national health and nutrition examination survey, 2003–2018. BMC Public Health. doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18587-7.https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-024-18587-7