Calcium

What is Calcium?

Calcium is one of the most important and abundant essential mineral in the body. Calcium is needed to form bones and teeth and is also required for blood clotting, transmission of signals in nerve cells, and muscle contraction.

Calcium is best known for preventing osteoporosis. It also plays a role in lowering blood pressure. Calcium also appears to partially bind some fats and cholesterol in the gastrointestinal tract. That is one of the reasons it is increasingly added as an ingredient in supplements that lower cholesterol levels.

By reducing absorption of oxalate, a substance found in many foods, calcium may be able to indirectly reduce the risk of kidney stones. Preliminary studies have shown high calcium diets are associated with reduced colon cancer risk.

Severe deficiency of either calcium or vitamin D leads to a condition called rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Since vitamin D is required for calcium absorption, people with conditions causing vitamin D deficiency (e.g., pancreatic insufficiency) may develop a deficiency of calcium as well.

Other than diary products, other good sources of calcium include sardines, canned salmon, green leafy vegetables and tofu. Calcium as a supplement is normally used to moderate the following conditions:

• Gestational hypertension
• Lactose intolerance (for preventing deficiency if dairy products are avoided only)
• Osteoporosis
• Preeclampsia (for deficiency)
• Premenstrual syndrome, and
• Rickets among others
  

Side Effects and Warnings of Calcium

Constipation, bloating, and gas are sometimes reported with the use of calcium supplements. A very high intake of calcium from dairy products plus supplemental calcium carbonate was reported in the past to cause a condition called “milk alkali syndrome.”

People with hyperparathyroidism, chronic kidney disease, or kidney stones should not supplement with calcium without consulting a physician. People with prostate cancer should avoid supplementing with calcium.

Calcium competes for absorption with a number of other minerals. Therefore, people taking calcium for more than a few weeks should also take a multi-mineral supplement.

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