Why Is Calcium Important?

Calcium It is not only a primary structural constituent of the skeleton (building strong bones) but is also widely distributed in the soft tissue and involved in vascular contraction and vasodilation, muscle function, nerve transmission, intracellular signaling and hormonal secretion ^[1]. Some studies suggest that calcium, along with Vitamin D, may have benefits beyond bone health: perhaps protecting against cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Calcium absorption depends upon the calcium needs of the body, the food eaten and the amount of calcium in the foods eaten. It’s so important that if you don’t get the recommended amount in your diet, your body will take it from your skeleton and teeth to use elsewhere, weakening your bones. The table given below shows the recommended dietary amount of calcium for different age groups.

AGE	MALE	FEMALE	PREGNANT	LACTATING
0 - 6 MONTHS	200 mg	200 mg
7 -12 MONTHS	260 mg	260 mg
1 - 3 YEARS	700 mg	700 mg
4 - 8 YEARS	1,000 mg	1,000 mg
9 - 13 YEARS	1,300 mg	1,300 mg
14 - 18 YEARS	1,300 mg	1,300 mg	1,300 mg	1,300 mg
19 - 50 YEARS	1,000 mg	1,000 mg	1,000 mg	1,000 mg
51 - 70 YEARS	1,000 mg	1,200 mg
71+ YEARS	1,200 mg

However, people who don’t eat enough calcium-rich foods might consider taking supplements. Before you consider calcium supplements, be sure you understand how much calcium you need, and which type of supplement to choose. Calculate^® is the best option. HiGlance Laboratories designed calcium combination with a unique new technology called “Dispersion Technology”, which ensure early absorption & faster dissolution with sugar free delicious orange flavor.

What is Calcium Deficiency?

CCalcium deficiency is a disease or condition that affects the functioning of our internal body system when our calcium storage becomes depleted. If left untreated, calcium deficiency leads to death. Deficiency of vitamin D, which help in calcium absorption, can also cause dietary calcium deficiency. There are generally two types of calcium deficiencies:

• Dietary Calcium Deficiency: This condition is caused due to inadequate calcium intake, which often leads to depleted calcium stores in the bones and leads to osteopenia which if untreated can lead to osteoporosis. The causes of Dietary calcium deficiency are inadequate consumption of calcium, deficiency of vitamin D, phosphorus & magnesium, menopause, age, and malabsorption.
• Hypocalcemia: It is not caused due to insufficient amount of calcium in diet This condition is characterized by low level of calcium in the blood. In this condition, the body will pull calcium from the bones to maintain normal blood calcium levels to perform vital body functions of the nerves, muscles, brain and heart. It often occurs as a side effect of medications, such as diuretics, medical conditions like renal failure, hyperthyroidism, pancreatitis, etc.

Is Calcium Deficiency Common?

How common is calcium deficiency, it hasn't really yet been established by health experts. However, according to estimates published in 2015, 3.5 billion people worldwide are at risk of a calcium deficiency, due to a low dietary intake ^[2] . In 2013, researchers reported that calcium deficiency is still common among people with chronic illnesses ^[3] . Three years later, researchers reported that 41% female have deficiencies of calcium and vitamin D, and 78% females have calcium deficiency symptoms, including pain in the back, legs, and joints ^[4] .

Given below, the certain people are at a higher risk of suffering from calcium deficiency as they need extra calcium.

• Postmenopausal women: Menopausal women experience bone loss at a rapid rate during the first five years after menopause because of the drop in estrogen production which results in increased bone resorption and decreased calcium absorption.
• Amenorrheic women and the female athlete triad: Amenorrhea, the condition in which menstrual periods abnormally stop in women of hildbearing age, results from reduced circulating estrogen levels that, in turn, have a negative effect on calcium balance.
• Lactose Intolerant Individuals: Such people are at a higher risk of calcium deficiency, not due to their inability to absorb calcium but due to avoidance of dairy products.
• Vegetarian and Vegans: Vegetarians have a greater risk of calcium deficiency than omnivores because they consume more plant products containing oxalic and phytic acid, which interfere with calcium absorption.
• Health Conditions: Have a high-protein or high-sodium diet, which may cause your body to excrete more calcium. Have a health condition that limits your body’s ability to absorb calcium, such as Crohn’s disease or inflammatory bowel disease. Are being treated with corticosteroids over a long period of time. Have osteoporosis.

What are Common Signs and Symptoms of Calcium Deficiency?

Unfortunately, Calcium deficiency signs & symptoms are not visible during the early stage. The body will keep its calcium levels in balance by taking the mineral from our bones and teeth. But as the condition progresses, the people experience the following mild to life-threatening symptoms and conditions.

• Muscle Cramps: A person with a calcium deficiency may experience muscle cramps as an initial symptom. Muscle ache or spasms occurs in the thighs, arms and underarms while moving and walking around. These symptoms may come and go, but they do not tend to disappear and mostly occurs at night.
• Numbness & Tingling: A person may experience numbness and tingling in the hands, arms, feet, and legs, as well as around the mouth. More extreme sensations may indicate a more severe deficiency.
• Dry skin and Brittle Nails: Calcium deficiency is visible in skin and nails. Low calcium makes skin dry and nails brittle. Skin is greatly affected by calcium deficiency like alopecia, eczema, psoriasis, etc.
• Late Puberty and severe Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS): Low calcium levels have been linked to puberty in adolescent females. They may also experience other menstrual problems such as cramping or a change in menstrual flow. Studies suggest that low levels of vitamin D and calcium during the second half of the menstrual cycle might contribute to symptoms of PMS.
• Dental Problem: Calcium is an important constituent of our teeth and its deficiency affects the teeth as well. Teeth may start turning yellow due to lack of calcium. Tooth decay, brittle teeth, irritated gums and weak tooth roots are other symptom of calcium deficiency. Calcium deficiency in childhood can lead to delay in tooth formation.
• Frequent Fractures and Bone Breakage: As stated earlier, calcium is needed to build bones and make them stronger. When overall levels of calcium are low, the body can divert some from the bones. This can cause osteopenia, a reduction of bone mineral density (BMD). Prolonged osteopenia can lead to osteoporosis, which causes the bones to thin and become vulnerable to fractures, as well as pain and problems with posture.
• Insomnia: People with calcium deficiency may suffer from loss of sleep. In certain cases, they may fall asleep, but fail to have a satisfactory and deep sleep.
• Extreme Fatigue: Calcium deficiency can cause extreme fatigue, which involves a lack of energy and an overall feeling of sluggishness. It can also lead to insomnia, lightheadedness, dizziness, and brain fog- characterized by forgetfulness, and confusion.
• Other symptoms: Wheezing, Chest pains, hallucinations, Seizures, and Depression.

When to contact a doctor?

Contact your doctor if you have symptoms of calcium deficiency. They’ll review your medical history and if suspects calcium deficiency, they’ll prescribe a blood sample test to check your blood calcium level and albumin level. Albumin is a protein that binds to calcium and transports it through the blood. Doctors define hypocalcemia, or a calcium deficiency, as blood calcium concentrations of below 8.8 mg/dl (Normal range= 8.8 to 10.4 mg/dl).

What are the treatments and prevention?

Treatment for calcium deficiency is necessary to prevent long term health issues. It can be treated in the following ways:

• Dietary Changes: Initial stages of calcium deficiency can be treated by adding more calcium to the diet. People should also consume foods rich in vitamin D to enhance the absorption of calcium. However, the high in vitamin D and calcium foods can also be high in saturated fat and trans-fat which increases the risk of high cholesterol and heart disease. It is advisable to choose low fat options to minimize the risk.
• Calcium Supplement: If people are unable to get enough calcium from diet, the doctor may suggest taking calcium supplements which are used to treat conditions that can cause hypocalcemia. However, calcium supplement should be taken only under the supervision of physician as overdose (hypercalcemia) can cause risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney stones, and other serious health problems. People who use calcium supplements should:
  1. Check first with their doctor whether they need supplements.
  2. Follow the dosage the doctor recommends.
  3. Take the supplement with food for best absorption.
  4. Consume the supplements at intervals, usually two or three times a day.
• Injection: If diet changes and supplements do not achieve the desired results and deficiency is severe, physician may prescribe regular calcium injections to regulate calcium levels.

Types of Calcium supplement

There are different types of supplements. Depending on individual’s needs, preferences and medical conditions, a doctor can recommend the best option. Supplements may contain different proportions of calcium compounds and elemental calcium. For example:

• Calcium carbonate: This contains highest element amount(40% elemental calcium) with lowest price.
• Calcium lactate: This contains 13% elemental calcium.
• Calcium gluconate: This contains 9% elemental calcium.
• Calcium citrate: This contains 21% elemental calcium.

The Benefits of Calculate^® (Calcium Carbonate 1250 mg & Vitamin D3 400 IU)

Calculate^® supplements may have several health benefits.

• Prevents Bone Loss in Postmenopausal Women: Several studies have suggested that giving postmenopausal women calcium supplements- usually around 1,000 mg per day- may reduce bone loss by 1–2% ^[5-6].
• Improves Bone health: Supplementation with calcium plus vitamin D has been shown to be effective in reducing fractures in older adults ^[7] .
• Helps with Fat Loss: Studies have associated low calcium intake with a high body mass index (BMI) and high body fat percentage ^[8-9] .
• Helps Lower the Risk of Colon Cancer: According to one large study, calcium from dairy products and supplements may lower the risk of colon cancer ^[10-11] .
• Lowers Blood pressure: In hypertensive subjects, calcium supplementation appears to lower systolic blood pressure by 2–4 mmHg ^[12] .
• Reduces the risk of Preeclampsia: Studies suggest that calcium supplementation during pregnancy reduces the risk of preeclampsia ^[13-14]
• Improves metabolic markers: Calcium-Vitamin D co-supplementation for 9 weeks in pregnant women improves metabolic profiles, it did not affect pregnancy outcomes ^[15] .

References

1. Committee to Review Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin D and Calcium, Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2010.
2. Kumssa DB, Joy EJ, Ander EL, et al. Dietary calcium and zinc deficiency risks are decreasing but remain prevalent. Sci Rep. 2015; 5:10974. doi:10.1038/srep10974
3. Steele T, Kolamunnage-Dona R, Downey C, Toh CH, Welters I. Assessment and clinical course of hypocalcemia in critical illness. Crit Care. 2013;17(3):R106. doi:10.1186/cc12756
4. Safila N, Asra H, et al. Survey on Prevalence of Vitamin D as Well as Calcium Deficiency Plus Awareness about Osteopenia and Osteoporosis in Females. JBB. 2016; 8(4): 175-78. DOI: 10.4172/jbb.1000289
5. Lamy O, Burckhardt P. Calcium revisited: part II calcium supplements and their effects. Bonekey Rep. 2014; 3:579. Published 2014 Oct 8. doi:10.1038/bonekey.2014.74
6. Anderson JJ, Roggenkamp KJ, et al,. Calcium intakes and femoral and lumbar bone density of elderly U.S. men and women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012;97(12):4531-4539. doi:10.1210/jc.2012-1407
7. Cranney A, Horsley T, O’Donnell S, et al,. Effectiveness and Safety of Vitamin D in Relation to Bone Health.. AHRQ Publication No. 07-E013. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. August 2007.
8. Bueno MB, Cesar CL, Martini LA, Fisberg RM. Dietary calcium intake and overweight: an epidemiologic view. Nutrition. 2008;24(11-12):1110-1115. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2008.05.020
9. Zhu W, Cai D, Wang Y, et al. Calcium plus vitamin D3 supplementation facilitated fat loss in overweight and obese college students with very-low calcium consumption. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-12-8
10. Park Y, Leitzmann MF, et al,.. Dairy food, calcium, and risk of cancer in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(4):391-401. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2008.578
11. Cho E, Smith-Warner SA, Spiegelman D, et al. Dairy foods, calcium, and colorectal cancer: a pooled analysis of 10 cohort studies. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004;96(13):1015-1022. doi:10.1093/jnci/djh185
12. Chung M, Balk EM,et al,. Vitamin D and Calcium: Systematic Review of Health Outcomes. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 183. AHRQ Publication No. 09-E015, Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. August 2009.
13. ACOG Task Force on Hypertension in Pregnancy. Hypertension in Pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2013.
14. World Health Organization. Guideline: Calcium supplementation in pregnant women. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2013.
15. Asemi Z, Samimi M, et al. Calcium-Vitamin D Co-supplementation Affects Metabolic Profiles, but not Pregnancy Outcomes, in Healthy Pregnant Women. Int J Prev Med. 2016;7:49.