Calcium Deficiency

Calcium deficiency is usually due to an inadequate supply or a failure in metabolism of calcium. Calcium, the main structural element of bones and teeth, is one of the most important minerals that helps in the growth and maintenance and reproduction of the human body. In addition to helping to maintain bone and dental health, calcium is also involved in a wide variety of other functions, including blood coagulation, the transmission of nerve impulses, muscle contraction and relaxation, normal heartbeat, stimulation of hormone secretion and the activation of enzyme reactions.

When blood calcium levels drop too low, the vital mineral is “borrowed” from the bones. It is returned to the bones from calcium supplied through the diet. If an individual’s diet is low in calcium, there may not be sufficient amounts of the element available in the blood to be returned to the bones … leading to a net loss in bone mass, a condition called osteopenia . Osteopenia can lead to osteoporosis, or porous bone. Osteoporosis is responsible for 1.5 million bone fractures in the U.S. every year.

The Problem of Calcium Deficiency is Serious

Low calcium intake is recognized as a major public health problem in the United States, with more than 75 percent of Americans not meeting the current calcium recommendations for their age/gender group, putting them at risk for osteoporosis. The top priority of the Surgeon General, Vice Admiral Richard Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., is to prevent debilitation and premature mortality from all causes, including bone disease and injury. Concerns about the large toll that osteoporosis — by far the most common bone disease — is inflicting on the nation led Dr. Carmona to release The Surgeon General's Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis on October 14, 2004.

Because osteoporosis is largely preventable, The Surgeon General's Report on Osteoporosis and Bone Health details the need for a greater public health focus on osteoporosis — even among racial and ethnic minorities, men, children and adolescents and the frail elderly. It also addresses the pressing issue of inadequate calcium consumption.

The Consequences of Untreated Calcium Deficiency

Low calcium intake is associated with the risk of osteoporosis, colon cancer and hypertension.

		Osteoporosis is a major public health threat for an estimated 44 million Americans, or 55 percent of people 50 years of age and older and is responsible for more than 1.5 million fractures annually. Ten million individuals are estimated to have osteoporosis today and almost 34 million more are estimated to have low bone mass (or osteopenia), placing them at increased risk for the disease in the future.
		Taking calcium supplements helps prevent the recurrence of polyps in the colon, a risk factor for colorectal cancer. In a well-controlled clinical trial, published in the Journal of The National Cancer Institute, calcium supplements reduced the advanced polyps growth which is most strongly associated with invasive colorectal cancer. While it’s not known exactly how the calcium may help prevent the polyps, researchers speculate that calcium prevents the irritating and cancer-promoting effect of bile acids and other fats in the bowel. To help reduce the risk of colon cancer you should follow the dietary recommendations for daily calcium intake.
		Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, can occur in children or adults. It affects about 50 million — or 1 in 4 — adult Americans and is especially common among African Americans and older people. Uncontrolled hypertension directly increases the risk of coronary heart disease — which can potentially lead to heart attack.

Studies show an association in women who have a calcium intake of 800 mg/day or more have a 23 percent lower risk of developing high blood pressure than women with an intake of 400 mg/day or less. The benefits of calcium are even greater among pregnant women. Controlled trials in women with habitually low calcium intakes have found that women who consume between 1500 - 2000 mg/day of calcium reduce their risk of developing pregnancy-induced hypertension by as much as 50 percent. It has also been shown that maternal calcium intake positively affects the infant's blood pressure. In one clinical trial, women with high calcium intakes gave birth to babies with higher birth weights and lower blood pressures. This lower pressure persisted throughout at least the first five years of life.

Also calcium deficiency is a major concern in the United States. Over 75% of Americans don't get what they need. Calcium is an essential element vital to many body functions. It is stored up in the bones during the first 30 to 35 years of life. The two causes of calcium deficiency are a diet low in calcium and an inability to absorb and metabolize the mineral. Calcium is the main component of bones and teeth and is involved in maintenance, growth and reproduction of the human body. Other functions are transmitting nerve impulses, regulating heartbeat, blood coagulation, muscle contraction and relaxation, stimulating hormone secretion and the activation of enzyme reactions. Calcium deficiency is linked to osteoporosis, colon cancer and high blood pressure.

A low calcium level in the blood because of poor diet causes the body to leach calcium from the bones. The body returns calcium to the bones when it receives it through diet. If the diet continues to be poor in calcium there will not be enough calcium in the blood to give back to the bones. Eventually this leads to osteoporosis.

Among the youth of America there is widespread calcium deficiency putting them at risk for many major health problems. Infants have been developing rickets, a disease usually associated with vitamin D deficiency, around the age of twenty months. This is due to lack of calcium in the diet after breast feeding was discontinued. According to the National Institutes of Health, only about 25% of boys and 10% of girls get enough calcium in their diets. Osteoporosis in Americans aged 50 years old and up is the reason for 1.5 million fractures every year. It is estimated that 10 million people have osteoporosis and 34 million more have low bone mass placing them at risk for osteoporosis.

High blood pressure affects around 50 million Americans and is very common among African Americans and older people. A study done on women with a diet continually low in calcium revealed that women who take 1500-2000 mg of calcium daily reduce the risk of getting high blood pressure from pregnancy by as much as 50%. It was also found that pregnant women who had a calcium rich diet, had babies that weighed more and had lower blood pressure that continued at least through the first five years of life.

Calcium may be Beneficial in Prevention and Treatment of Several Health Conditions

Cataracts

Osteoporosis

Colon Cancer

High Blood Pressure

Kidney Stones

Premenstrual Syndrome

Pregnacy induced High Blood Pressure

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Foods RIch in Calcium

The best sources of calcium are spinach, collard greens, mustard seeds and turnip greens.

Other great sources include kale, swiss chard, blackstrap molasses, mozzarella cheese swiss chard, yogurt, cow's milk, goat's milk, basil. cinnamon, thyme, dill seed, and peppermint leaves.

Good sources include, broccoli, romaine lettuce, celery, brussel sprouts, oranges, asparagus, sesame seeds, fennel, cabbage, summer squash, basil, thyme, dill seed, cinnamon, and peppermint leaves, cow's milk, and goat's milk.

Note: The amount of calcium in food is not affected by cooking or storage.

Calcium Supplements

Supplements can be purchases in different forms. The most common are carbonates or citrates. Calcium citrate is the best choice for maximum absorption and bioavailability in the body.

The recommended daily intake of calcium is as follows:

210mg for 0 to 6 months old

270mg for 6 to 12 months old

500mg for1 to 3 years old

800mg for 4 to 8 years old

1300mg for 9 to 18 years old

1000mg for 19 to 50 years old

1200mg for 51 years old and above

Conclusion

Calcium is one of the essential minerals needed to maintain life. Most people in America today are calcium deficient and are in danger of serious health conditions developing. By taking preventative measure today you can avoid the undesirable and inevidable outcome of calcium deficiency.

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