Statement on "Calcium Substitution and Myocardial Infarction Risk."

The Federal Office for Safety in Health Care (BASG) publishes the following statement on "Calcium Supplementation and Myocardial Infarction Risk." It refers to a meta-analysis on the use of calcium as monotherapy for osteoporosis published in the British Medical Journal on July 29, 2010. (Bolland MJ. BMJ 2010;341:c3691(www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/341/jul29_1/c3691)

BASG Opinion:

• The results of this meta-analysis will possibly influence the recommendation guidelines. In the view of the BASG, the data situation is currently not sufficient for a contraindication of calcium monotherapy for osteoporosis in the SmPC, nor for a mandatory combination with drug-based osteoporosis therapy.
• A possible change of the wording "prevention of calcium deficiency" in the expert information is currently being clarified by the BASG.
• AGES, Food Testing Division, will inform the Codex Subcommittee on Food Supplements to prepare a national position. This position will serve as a basis for activities of the Federal Ministry of Health at national level and in the relevant EU bodies.
• The BASG recommends against uncritical prophylactic calcium supplementation for safety reasons.

Queries:

AGES PharmMed/BASG

Dr. Marcus Müllner

E-mail: pr_pharmmed@ages.at

Further inquiry note

basg@basg.gv.at