ABSTRACT
Dyslipidemia is the main risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. There are discrepancies in the effects of calcium supplementation on modulation of lipid status. Therefore, we aimed to summarize the effects of dietary calcium supplement on circulating lipoprotein concentrations and atherogenic indices in overweight and obese individuals. We conducted a systematic literature search from 2000 until July 2016. PubMed, Scopus, Cochran Library, and ISI Web of Science databases were searched for clinical trials written in English. Placebo controlled clinical trials on calcium or calcium with vitamin D supplement in overweight and obese indiciduals were considered. Finally, 11 clinical trials met the criteria and were included. Most studies (n = 9) evaluated Ca/D co-supplementation. Positive effects of calcium supplementation alone or with vitamin D were as follows: serum levels of total cholesterol (TC; n = 1), triglyceride (TG) concentrations (n = 1), serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; n = 5) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; n = 3). Seven clinical trials reported atherogenic indices and three of them demonstrated beneficial effects of calcium supplementation on at least one atherogenic index. Calcium supplementation may not be helpful to reduce serum levels of TC and TG in overweight and obese individuals. However, it may modulate LDL-C and HDL-C concentration. More studies are warranted to clarify the effects of calcium supplementation on each atherogenic index.
Declaration of interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.
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Notes on contributors
Javad Heshmati
Javad Heshmati, Ph.D student of Nutrition; Current affiliation: Songhor Healthcare Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Science, Kermanshah, Iran. E-mail: [email protected]; Research interest: Nutritional Science, Dietary supplements, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome.
Mahdi Sepidarkish
Mahdi Sepidarkish, Ph.D Student of Epidemiology; Current affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Reproductive Health, Reproductive Epidemiology Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. E-mail: [email protected]; Research interest: Epidemiology, Reproductive science, Fertility & Infertility.
Nazli Namazi
Nazli Namazi, Ph.D of Nutrition; Current affiliation: Diabetes Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. E-mail: [email protected]; Research interest: Nutritional Science, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases, Dietary supplements, Obesity.
Fatemeh Shokri
Fatemeh Shokrid, Ph.D student of Health Education; Current affiliation: Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. E-mail: [email protected]; Research interest: Educational science, Nutritional science, Fertility infertility.
Mahsa Yavari
Mahsa Yavari, Msc student of Nutrition; Current affiliation Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. E-mail: [email protected]. Research interest: Nutritional Science, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome.
Siavash Fazelian
Siavash Fazelian, Ph.D student of Nutrition; Current affiliation: Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran. E-mail: [email protected]; Research interest: Nutritional Science, Dietary supplements, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome.
Masoud Khorshidi
Masoud Khorshidi, MSc student of Nutrition, Current affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Research interests: Nutritional Science, Obesity.
Farzad Shidfar
Farzad Shidfar, Professor of Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Research interest: Nutritional Science, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome.