Calcium, Ca

Calcium, the most abundant mineral in the body, is found in some foods, added to others, available as a dietary supplement, and present in some medicines (such as antacids). Calcium is required for vascular contraction and vasodilation, muscle function, nerve transmission, intracellular signaling and hormonal secretion, though less than 1% of total body calcium is needed to support these critical metabolic functions. The remaining 99% of the body’s calcium supply is stored in the bones and teeth where it supports their structure and function. Bone itself undergoes continuous remodeling, with constant resorption and deposition of calcium into new bone. The balance between bone resorption and deposition changes with age. Bone formation exceeds resorption in periods of growth in children and adolescents, whereas in early and middle adulthood both processes are relatively equal. In aging adults, particularly among postmenopausal women, bone breakdown exceeds formation, resulting in bone loss that increases the risk of osteoporosis over time.

Helps your body to:

form and maintain healthy teeth and bones
regulate muscle contractions
transmit nerve impulses
release essential hormones and enzymes

Protect and effective against:

osteoporosis
fractures
erosion, decay, and temperature sensitivity of teeth
colorectal and prostate cancer

Deficiency symptoms:

Inadequate intakes of dietary calcium from food and supplements produce no obvious symptoms in the short term. Circulating blood levels of calcium are tightly regulated. Hypocalcemia results primarily from medical problems or treatments, including renal failure, surgical removal of the stomach, and use of certain medications (such as diuretics). Symptoms of hypocalcemia include numbness and tingling in the fingers, muscle cramps, convulsions, lethargy, poor appetite, and abnormal heart rhythms.

Overdose symptoms:

Calcium overdose from supplements can weaken bones, lead to kidney stones, reduce nutrient absorption and interfere with the health of heart

Recommended daily intake:

	Males	Females	Pregnancy	Lactation
0-6 months	200mg*	200mg*
6-12 months	260mg*	260mg*
1-3 years	700mg	700mg
4-8 years	1000mg	1000mg
9-13 years	1.3g	1.3g
14-18 years	1.3g	1.3g	1.3g	1.3g
19-30 years	1000mg	1000mg	1000mg	1000mg
31-50 years	1000mg	1000mg	1000mg	1000mg
51-70 years	1000mg	1.2g
>70 years	1.2g	1.2g