Home > Heart Surgery Blog > Aortic Stenosis > "Do Calcium Supplements Accelerate Heart Valve Disease?" Asks Cheryl

"Do Calcium Supplements Accelerate Heart Valve Disease?" Asks Cheryl

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Medical Expert: Eric Roselli, MD, Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery, Cleveland Clinic
Page Last Updated: July 16, 2025

As I suffered from a calcified heart valve prior to surgery, I definitely perked up when I read this email from Cheryl of Ontario, Canada.

Aortic Stenosis Caused By Calcified Heart Valve Leaflets

Calcified Aortic Valve (Aortic Stenosis)

Cheryl wrote to me, "Hi Adam - I have heard that some patients have been cautioned about the overuse of calcium supplements (including Rolaids) considering potential damage to heart valve leaflets. As so many patients, especially women, use supplements, I was curious to know your thoughts about calcium supplements. My calcium use was part of my history when I underwent a mitral valve repair and I wasn't given any warning. What about other antacids such as Tums? Is this a cause of valve failure? Thanks, Cheryl"

Cheryl Irvine, Mitral Valve Repair Patient

After reading Cheryl's question, I was really curious. That said, I reached out to Eric Roselli, M.D., one of the Cleveland Clinic's leading heart valve surgeons.

In discussing this topic with Dr. Roselli, he noted, "Although it is a theoretical concern, there is no direct evidence to support the connection between excess calcium intake and the risk of degenerative aortic stenosis."

Dr. Eric Roselli, Heart Surgeon, Cleveland Clinic

Specific to Cheryl's situation, Dr. Roselli noted, "If Cheryl had a mitral valve repair, I suspect she probably had degenerative mitral valve disease (commonly referred as mitral valve prolapse) and there is not even a theoretic concern for her and the use of calcium supplementation. If her primary care doctor believes she should be on calcium or vitamin D supplementation for potential osteoporosis, then - by all means - the history of a mitral valve repair for degenerative disease should not be a contraindication."

Calcified Mitral Valve

I hope this helped all of us learn more about calcium supplements and heart valve disease.

Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

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