Health experts have known for some time that excessive exposure to lead can cause health problems, such as anemia, high blood pressure, brain and kidney damage, and growth problems in children. In the past few decades, health officials successfully fought for the removal of lead-based paint and gasoline reducing average blood lead levels by roughly 80 percent over the last 25 years. For patients with kidney disease, who require high doses of calcium, lead exposure could reach 20 micrograms or more per day. Health experts caution consumers not to stop taking their calcium supplements. The risk of osteoporosis from not getting enough calcium is much greater than the slight possible risk of lead exposure.
Calcium also blocks the absorption of lead by the body.
So even small amounts of lead in calcium supplements probably won t cause any harm. Consumers who are worried about the lead content in their calcium supplements should check the package label. The information on this factsheet is not meant to substitute for a consultation with your physician or with another healthcare professional.