Calcium
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The most abundant mineral in the body, of which 99% is present in bones and teeth; the fifth most common substance behind carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen; as a component of hard tissues, calcium fulfills a structural role to maintain body size, acting as attachments for musculoskeletal tissues; the remaining percentage of non-skeletal calcium exists in much higher concentrations extracellularly than intracellularly; within the cells, it fulfills important regulatory roles for transmitting hormonal (second messenger) roles, blood clotting, cell and cell organelle membrane functions (stabilization and transport), enzyme activations, nerve impulse transmission and muscular contraction (smooth muscles in arteries and skeletal muscles); adequate intracellular calcium is essential for maintaining cardiac performance and vascular tone; helps prevent bone loss and osteoporosis; plays a role in nerve transmission and blood pressure regulation; and works with magnesium in regulating the heart and muscles.
A calcium deficiency could be a contributing cause of bone loss and bone loss disorders (osteoporosis and osteomelacia in adults; rickets in children), depression, diuretic therapy, back and leg pains, fatigue, heart disease, heart palpitation, hypertension, inflammatory bowel disease, insomnia, intestinal resection, malabsorption, malnourished, muscle cramps and spasms, muscular and nervous irritability, menstrual cramps, osteoarthritis, periodontal disease, premenstrual syndrome, steatorrhea, tetany, tooth decay, and very high fiber intakes. Magnesium deficiency causes various abnormalities in calcium metabolism and ingestion of foods high in phosphorus (soft drinks and animal protein) promote the urinary loss of calcium. This can cause the body to leach calcium from the bones and thus contribute to osteoporosis. Caffeine, excess dietary fat and fiber, and lack of exercise can also negatively influence calcium status. In addition, pregnant and lactating women have an increased requirement for calcium, as do women of all ages.
In atherosclerosis, intracellular calcium is often elevated, leading to calcium deposits which indicate inadequate calcium metabolism rather than an absolute deficiency or excess. Many calcium-regulated intracellular events are inadequate in atherosclerosis. Paradoxically, improved intracellular calcium status normalizes inadequate cellular functions. Ionized serum calcium helps to initiate muscle contractions. As such, it plays a vital role in the contraction-relaxation cycle that regulates a normal heart beat; ionized calcium also regulates the passage of fluids across cellular membranes by affecting cell wall permeability. Calcium also closely interacts with magnesium in cardiovascular health.
Pharmaceutical drugs that can cause a calcium deficiency include aluminium hydroxide, barbiturates, bumetanide, chlortetracycline, cholestyramine resin, cimetidine, corticosteroids, demeclocycline, digoxin, doxycycline, etharynic acid, ethosuximide, famotidine, fosphenytoin, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, methsuximide, mineral oil, minocycline, nizatidine, oxytetracycline, phenytoin, primidone, ranitidine bismuth citrate, ranitidine hydrochloride, tetracyclines, torsemide and triamterene.
Dietary sources richest in calcium (per serving) include bone meal, broccoli, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes (beans, lentils, peas, soybeans), milk and milk products, nutritional supplements, nuts, salmon, sardine, tofu and whole grains and grain products.
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> back to About Micronutrients
The most abundant mineral in the body, of which 99% is present in bones and teeth; the fifth most common substance behind carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen; as a component of hard tissues, calcium fulfills a structural role to maintain body size, acting as attachments for musculoskeletal tissues; the remaining percentage of non-skeletal calcium exists in much higher concentrations extracellularly than intracellularly; within the cells, it fulfills important regulatory roles for transmitting hormonal (second messenger) roles, blood clotting, cell and cell organelle membrane functions (stabilization and transport), enzyme activations, nerve impulse transmission and muscular contraction (smooth muscles in arteries and skeletal muscles); adequate intracellular calcium is essential for maintaining cardiac performance and vascular tone; helps prevent bone loss and osteoporosis; plays a role in nerve transmission and blood pressure regulation; and works with magnesium in regulating the heart and muscles.
A calcium deficiency could be a contributing cause of bone loss and bone loss disorders (osteoporosis and osteomelacia in adults; rickets in children), depression, diuretic therapy, back and leg pains, fatigue, heart disease, heart palpitation, hypertension, inflammatory bowel disease, insomnia, intestinal resection, malabsorption, malnourished, muscle cramps and spasms, muscular and nervous irritability, menstrual cramps, osteoarthritis, periodontal disease, premenstrual syndrome, steatorrhea, tetany, tooth decay, and very high fiber intakes. Magnesium deficiency causes various abnormalities in calcium metabolism and ingestion of foods high in phosphorus (soft drinks and animal protein) promote the urinary loss of calcium. This can cause the body to leach calcium from the bones and thus contribute to osteoporosis. Caffeine, excess dietary fat and fiber, and lack of exercise can also negatively influence calcium status. In addition, pregnant and lactating women have an increased requirement for calcium, as do women of all ages.
In atherosclerosis, intracellular calcium is often elevated, leading to calcium deposits which indicate inadequate calcium metabolism rather than an absolute deficiency or excess. Many calcium-regulated intracellular events are inadequate in atherosclerosis. Paradoxically, improved intracellular calcium status normalizes inadequate cellular functions. Ionized serum calcium helps to initiate muscle contractions. As such, it plays a vital role in the contraction-relaxation cycle that regulates a normal heart beat; ionized calcium also regulates the passage of fluids across cellular membranes by affecting cell wall permeability. Calcium also closely interacts with magnesium in cardiovascular health.
Pharmaceutical drugs that can cause a calcium deficiency include aluminium hydroxide, barbiturates, bumetanide, chlortetracycline, cholestyramine resin, cimetidine, corticosteroids, demeclocycline, digoxin, doxycycline, etharynic acid, ethosuximide, famotidine, fosphenytoin, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, methsuximide, mineral oil, minocycline, nizatidine, oxytetracycline, phenytoin, primidone, ranitidine bismuth citrate, ranitidine hydrochloride, tetracyclines, torsemide and triamterene.
Dietary sources richest in calcium (per serving) include bone meal, broccoli, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes (beans, lentils, peas, soybeans), milk and milk products, nutritional supplements, nuts, salmon, sardine, tofu and whole grains and grain products.
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