Browse In:
Health
Diet & Nutrition
Home Medical
Medicine Cabinet
Oral Care
Personal Care
Sexual Wellness
Vision
Vitamins
Related Categories
Wellness Shops
Featured Brands
Featured Content

Free Shipping to your door with homefree*

Calcium
 
Print Article

Calcium

Font Size:
A |A |A
Health information provided by Aisle7

Related Topics

  1. Give Your Kids a Calcium Boost
  2. Calcium: Which Form Is Best?
  3. Calcium for Sports & Fitness

Calcium is the most abundant, essential mineral in the human body. Of the two to three pounds of calcium contained in the average body, 99% is located in the bones and teeth. Calcium is needed to form bones and teeth and is also required for blood clotting, transmission of signals in nerve cells, and muscle contraction. The importance of calcium for preventing osteoporosis is probably its most well-known role.

How to Use It

The National Academy of Sciences has established guidelines for calcium that are 25–50% higher than previous recommendations. For ages 19 to 50, calcium intake is recommended to be 1,000 mg daily; for adults over age 51, the recommendation is 1,200 mg daily.1 The most common supplemental amount for adults is 800–1,000 mg per day.2 General recommendations for higher daily intakes (1,200–1,500 mg) usually include the calcium most people consume from their diets. Studies indicate the average daily amount of calcium consumed by Americans is about 500–1,000 mg.

Where to Find It

Most dietary calcium comes from dairy products. The myth that calcium from dairy products is not absorbed is not supported by scientific research.3, 4 Other good sources include sardines, canned salmon, green leafy vegetables, and tofu.

Possible Deficiencies

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. Vegans (pure vegetarians), people with dark skin, those who live in northern latitudes, and people who stay indoors almost all the time are more likely to be vitamin D deficient than are other people. Vegans often eat less calcium and vitamin D than do other people. Most people eat well below the recommended amount of calcium. This lack of dietary calcium is thought to contribute to the risk of osteoporosis, particularly in white and Asian women.

Interactions with Supplements, Foods, & Other Compounds

Some studies have shown that calcium competes for absorption with a number of other minerals, while other studies have found no such competition. To be on the safe side, some doctors recommend that people taking calcium for long periods of time should also take a multimineral supplement.

One study has shown that taking calcium can interfere with the absorption of phosphorus, which, like calcium, is important for bone health.5. Although most western diets contain ample or even excessive amounts of phosphorus, older people who supplement with large amounts of calcium may be at risk of developing phosphorus deficiency. For this reason, the authors of this study recommend that, for elderly people, at least some of the supplemental calcium be taken in the form of tricalcium phosphate or some other phosphorus-containing preparation.

Vitamin D’s most important role is maintaining blood levels of calcium. Therefore, many doctors recommend that those supplementing with calcium also supplement with 400 IU of vitamin D per day.

Animal studies have shown that essential fatty acids (EFAs) increase calcium absorption from the gut, in part by enhancing the effects of vitamin D and reducing loss of calcium in the urine.6

Lysine supplementation increases the absorption of calcium and may reduce its excretion.7 As a result, some researchers believe that lysine may eventually be shown to have a role in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.8

Interactions with Medicines

Certain medicines interact with this supplement.

May Be Beneficial:Some medicines may increase the need for this supplement.
Avoid:Some medicines interact with this supplement, so they should not be taken together.
Check:Some interactions between this supplement and certain medicines require more explanation. Click the link to see details.

May Be Beneficial:Albuterol
May Be Beneficial:Aluminum Hydroxide
May Be Beneficial:Beclomethasone
May Be Beneficial:Budesonide
May Be Beneficial:Busulfan
May Be Beneficial:Caffeine
May Be Beneficial:Calcitonin
May Be Beneficial:Capecitabine
May Be Beneficial:Carboplatin
May Be Beneficial:Carmustine
May Be Beneficial:Chlorambucil
May Be Beneficial:Cholestyramine
May Be Beneficial:Cisplatin
May Be Beneficial:Cladribine
May Be Beneficial:Colesevelam
May Be Beneficial:Colestipol
May Be Beneficial:Cortisone
May Be Beneficial:Cycloserine
May Be Beneficial:Cytarabine
May Be Beneficial:Dexamethasone
May Be Beneficial:Dexamethasone
May Be Beneficial:Diclofenac
May Be Beneficial:Docetaxel
May Be Beneficial:Felodipine
May Be Beneficial:Floxuridine
May Be Beneficial:Fludarabine
May Be Beneficial:Flunisolide
May Be Beneficial:Flurbiprofen
May Be Beneficial:Fluticasone
May Be Beneficial:Furosemide
May Be Beneficial:Furosemide
May Be Beneficial:Gabapentin
May Be Beneficial:Gentamicin
May Be Beneficial:Hydrocodone
May Be Beneficial:Hydroxyurea
May Be Beneficial:Ifosfamide
May Be Beneficial:Indomethacin
May Be Beneficial:Isoniazid
May Be Beneficial:Levalbuterol
May Be Beneficial:Lomustine
May Be Beneficial:Mechlorethamine
May Be Beneficial:Melphalan
May Be Beneficial:Mercaptopurine
May Be Beneficial:Metformin
May Be Beneficial:Methotrexate
May Be Beneficial:Methylprednisolone
May Be Beneficial:Mineral Oil
May Be Beneficial:Neomycin
May Be Beneficial:Omeprazole
May Be Beneficial:Phenobarbital
May Be Beneficial:Phenytoin
May Be Beneficial:Phenytoin
May Be Beneficial:Polifeprosan 20 with Carmustine
May Be Beneficial:Prednisolone
May Be Beneficial:Prednisone
May Be Beneficial:Streptozocin
May Be Beneficial:Sucralfate
May Be Beneficial:Sulfamethoxazole
May Be Beneficial:Thioguanine
May Be Beneficial:Thiotepa
May Be Beneficial:Tobramycin
May Be Beneficial:Triamterene
May Be Beneficial:Trimethoprim/ Sulfamethoxazole
May Be Beneficial:Uracil Mustard
May Be Beneficial:Vinblastine
May Be Beneficial:Vincristine
Avoid:Amlodipine-Benazepril
Avoid:Calcium Acetate
Avoid:Ciprofloxacin
Avoid:Demeclocycline
Avoid:Doxycycline
Avoid:Gemifloxacin
Avoid:Nadolol
Avoid:Ofloxacin
Avoid:Sotalol
Avoid:Tetracycline
Check:Alendronate
Check:Bendroflumethiazide
Check:Carbamazepine
Check:Chlorothiazide
Check:Chlorthalidone
Check:Desogestrel-Ethinyl Estradiol
Check:Dessicated Thyroid
Check:Erythromycin
Check:Ethinyl Estradiol and Levonorgestrel
Check:Ethinyl Estradiol and Norethindrone
Check:Ethinyl Estradiol and Norgestimate
Check:Ethinyl Estradiol and Norgestrel
Check:Etidronate
Check:Felbamate
Check:Hydrochlorothiazide
Check:Hydroflumethiazide
Check:Hydroflumethiazide
Check:Indapamide
Check:Lactase
Check:Levetiracetam
Check:Levonorgestrel
Check:Levonorgestrel-Ethinyl Estrad
Check:Levothyroxine
Check:Liothyronine
Check:Liotrix
Check:Mestranol and Norethindrone
Check:Methyclothiazide
Check:Metolazone
Check:Minocycline
Check:Norgestimate-Ethinyl Estradiol
Check:Oxcarbazepine
Check:Pamidronate
Check:Polythiazide
Check:Primidone
Check:Risedronate
Check:Sodium Fluoride
Check:Topiramate
Check:Trichlormethiazide
Check:Valproate

Side Effects

Constipation, bloating, and gas are sometimes reported with the use of calcium supplements.9 A very high intake of calcium from dairy products combined with large amounts of supplemental calcium carbonate (used as an antacid) was reported in the past to cause a condition called “milk alkali syndrome.” This toxicity is rarely reported today because most medical doctors no longer tell people with ulcers to use this approach as treatment for their condition.

People with hyperparathyroidism, chronic kidney disease, or kidney stones should not supplement with calcium without consulting a physician. For other adults, the highest amount typically suggested by doctors (1,200 mg per day) typically does not cause side effects. People with prostate cancer should avoid supplementing with calcium without medical supervision.

A combined analysis of 15 controlled trials found that long-term calcium supplementation was associated with a significant increase of approximately 30% in the incidence of myocardial infarctions (heart attacks).10 Since these studies were not designed to examine the effect of calcium on heart attack risk, it is possible that the findings in this post hoc (after the fact) analysis were due to chance. A more recent study found that long-term calcium supplementation did not result in an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease-related death or hospitalization.11

In the past, calcium supplements in the forms of bone meal (including microcrystalline hydroxyapatite [MCHC]), dolomite, and oyster shell have sometimes had higher lead levels than permitted by stringent California regulations, though generally less than the levels set by the federal government.12 “Refined” forms (which would include calcium citrate malate [CCM], calcium citrate, and most calcium carbonate) have low levels of lead.13 More recently, a survey of over-the-counter calcium supplements found low or undetectable levels of lead in most products,14 representing a sharp decline in lead content of calcium supplements since 1993. People who decide to take bone meal, dolomite, oyster shell, or coral calcium for long periods of time can contact the supplying supplement company to request independent laboratory analysis showing minimal lead levels.

References

Copyright © 2012 Aisle7. All rights reserved. Aisle7.com

Learn more about Aisle7, the company.

Learn more about the authors of Aisle7 products.

The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2013.

Important Walmart Disclaimer: All content, including but not limited to, recipe and health information provided in Healthy Living, is for educational purposes only. Such content is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. Such content does not cover all possible side effects of any new or different health program. Consult your medical professional for guidance before changing or undertaking a new diet or exercise program. Advance consultation with your physician is particularly important if you are under eighteen (18) years old, pregnant, nursing, or have health problems.
 
 
 

Share

Loading...

ADVERTISEMENT

Walmart Pharmacy

Pharmacy FPO

    ADVERTISEMENT

    The Walmart.com site includes Flash technology. To avoid interruption of software designed to aid visually-impaired people, please turn off your Flash player.
    CloseClose Popup
    Searching...
    We're sorry, we are unable to show the Quick Look at this time.
    Please click See Details for more information.
    See product details