High Vit D3 supplementation and elevated CAC (Calcium) score

Posted by chuckiepoo1 @chuckiepoo1, Feb 16 9:31am

I've recently read an article about dangers of high intakes of vitamin D3 . It caused me to ponder whether this in any way may result in higher arteral CAC scores. I'm wondering if anyone has read any articles or research that has linked the two.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.

Janell, Volunteer Mentor | @jlharsh | Feb 22 7:39am

Great question, @chuckiepoo1!

Here is what Mayo Clinic has to say about relationship between various types of calcium.
- Calcium supplements: A risk for heart attack?
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-attack/expert-answers/calcium-supplements/faq-20058352
Where does your particular health situation fit? Do you think you will discuss dietary and supplemental calcium with your doctor?

hurstka | @hurstka | Feb 23 12:17pm

I was recently told that my lung scan showed severe calcification of my heart. I have been getting the scan for the past 15 years because I was a previous smoker. For some reason my dr didn’t schedule me for a scan for 2yrs and honestly I had forgotten about it. Up to that point no one has ever mentioned anything about high or any calcification on previous scans of my heart. I started taking calcium and vit d3: caltrate 2x daily for 2 yrs for osteoporosis. I’m wondering if that had anything to do with an new finding of severe classification, I just don’t know why I went from none to severe over the past two years

hurstka | @hurstka | Feb 23 12:18pm

In reply to @hurstka "I was recently told that my lung scan showed severe calcification of my heart. I have..." + (show)

@hurstka edit to previous post
not classification but calcification

chuckiepoo1 | @chuckiepoo1 | Feb 23 1:48pm

In reply to @hurstka "I was recently told that my lung scan showed severe calcification of my heart. I have..." + (show)

@hurstka that is a good question. Of course, I'm not a doctor but I wouldn't think that would happen in 2 years or less. Good question for your doctor.

hurstka | @hurstka | Feb 24 10:23am

I didn’t think it would. I did find an updated study 2021 that back in 2016 low dose scans of lung that showed calcification in heart should be reported even though the scan was for the lungs. So it concerned me that within 2 years 2025 the current scan indicated severe calcification.
Cardio doc said that tech has changed and has better resolution- and my prime doc said it depends on the tech taking the scan. Not buying the change in tech, I’d agree if the changed happened over 10 years ago and concerns that of tech have a different approach to taking scans among systems how are you ever to accurately compare. I’m so frustrated that I can’t get a clear explanation for over a year - the cardio doc just put me on 20 mg of statin because my bad cholesterol. was 90.