Calcium lactate and cholesterol in people with high cholesterol
What it found
In 21 people with high cholesterol and past hepatitis B, four weeks of a calcium lactate plus vitamin C tablet lowered total cholesterol by 4%.
The authors say this is a preliminary result.
What they found
Studies in people
Total cholesterol
Total cholesterol fell by 4% after four weeks of the calcium lactate preparation. The authors report this as statistically significant.
LDL and triglycerides
LDL cholesterol fell by 6% and triglycerides by 8%, but these changes were not statistically significant.
HDL cholesterol
HDL cholesterol rose by 1%, which was not statistically significant.
Calcium levels
Total calcium fell by 3% and ionised calcium rose by 7%, but neither change was statistically significant.
Liver enzymes and side effects
No significant change in liver enzyme activity was seen, and no side effects were reported during the four weeks.
What the authors conclude
“In patients with type 2 hyperlipidaemia and previous viral hepatitis, a four-week supplementation of calcium in a calcium lactate preparation beneficially modified the lipid profile.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that in patients with type 2 hyperlipidaemia and a history of viral hepatitis, four weeks of calcium lactate supplementation beneficially modified lipid profiles, decreasing total cholesterol by 4%.
- They state that it did not cause significant changes in serum calcium concentrations and was well tolerated with no side effects.
- They advise that a longer observation period is required to estimate the effects of long-term calcium lactate supplementation on lipid profiles.
How it was done
The authors wanted to see whether calcium supplements could help lower cholesterol in people with high cholesterol and a history of viral hepatitis B, who are sometimes not given statins because of liver concerns.
They studied 21 patients with type 2 hyperlipidaemia and previous hepatitis B, plus 22 healthy controls. After a four-week low-fat diet, the patients took one tablet containing 170 mg calcium lactate and 60 mg vitamin C three times a day for four weeks.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a small, short study of 21 patients, so the results may not apply to everyone with high cholesterol.
- The study did not compare the calcium lactate preparation against a dummy pill, so it cannot prove the cholesterol change was caused by the supplement rather than the diet or other factors.
- The authors themselves call this a preliminary report and say further studies are needed.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Medical University of Lodz, Poland
The paper
- Title
- Effect of calcium lactate supplementation on cholesterol concentration in patients with hyperlipidaemia and previous viral hepatitis: a preliminary report
- Type
- Clinical trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Andryskowski G, Chojnowska-Jezierska J, Broncel M, Barylski M, Banach M (2008). Effect of calcium lactate supplementation on cholesterol concentration in patients with hyperlipidaemia and previous viral hepatitis: a preliminary report. Cardiovascular journal of Africa.Free full textPubMed 18516353
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error