Calcium: Building Block of Bones

Calcium: Building Block of Bones

Hello Friends!

Hope you all are doing well and getting useful information from my previous posts. Today we will talk about Mineral Calcium that plays vital role in our body. As we all know that “Consciousness sleeps in minerals, dreams in vegetables, awakens in animals and becomes self aware in human beings”. A balanced diet usually provides all the essential minerals. That nutrition in which all the important nutrients for organism are available in sufficient quantity is called Balanced Diet. Balance nutrition is obtained from balanced diet. Let’s talk about Calcium that is building block of bones.

Minerals:

Minerals are homogenous inorganic material needed for body. These control the metabolism of body. Minerals are formed naturally in the earth. A mineral can be made of single chemical element or more usually a compound.

Types of Minerals:

1. Macro Minerals: These are also called Major minerals. For example: Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Phosphorous, Magnesium etc.

2. Micro Minerals: These are also called Trace Minerals. For example: Iron, Zinc, Iodine, Copper, Chromium etc.

Functions of Minerals:

1. Minerals provide us healthy heart and strong muscles.

2. Minerals help in smooth functioning of brain.

3. Minerals maintain healthy bones and teeth.

4. Minerals help in energy production, enhance immune system etc.

Calcium:

Calcium is an alkaline earth metal. Calcium is most abundant mineral in body. Calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide nitride layer when exposed to air.

Daily Quantity	Main Sources	Functions
1.2 grams	Milk, Cheese, Eggs, Grains, Gram, Fish etc.	Strengthening bones, Muscular Construction, Clotting of Blood etc.

Functions of Calcium:

1. Dental Health: Calcium provides strength to bones and teeth with Vitamin.

2. Calcium plays important role in blood formation.

3. Calcium also helps in muscle construction and in clotting of blood.

4. Strengthening of Bones: 

Calcium prevents people from osteoporosis (weak and broken bones).

5. Cardiovascular Disease: Calcium controls high blood pressure because it protects muscles of heart from arrhythmia (also Read this: Heart Attack).

6. Cancer: Calcium with Vitamin C helps in protection of breast cancer among female.

Calcium Deficiency Diseases:

1. Hypocalcemia: It is a condition which occurs when Calcium level in blood is low. Symptoms are:

(a) Muscle ache (b) Numbness in hands, arms, feet, legs (c) Spasm in body (d) Pain in thighs and under arms.

2. Insomnia: It is sleep disorder that is affecting millions of people worldwide. Symptoms are:

(a) Day time Sleepiness (b) Lethargy (c) Anxiety (d) Mood Swing (e) Irritation (f) Physically and Mentally unwell.

3. Eczema: Calcium deficiency affects the skin. Eczema means skin inflammation. Symptoms are:

(a) Itching on Skin (b) Redness (c) Skin blisters

4. Alopecia: Calcium deficiency leads to alopecia which means hair loss and results in patches.

5. Osteopenia: Osteopenia reduces the mineral density of bones. 

Symptoms are:

(a) Diminishing bone density (b) Risk of fracture

6. Osteoporosis: Calcium deficiency leads to osteoporosis which means bones become thinner and risk of fracture increases. Symptoms are:

(a) Fracture (b) Pain (c) Issue with Specific Posture, disability

7. Brittle nails: Nails become dry and broken due to deficiency of Calcium.

8. PMS: Painful Pre-Menstrual Syndrome due to deficiency of Calcium.

9. Tooth Decay: 

Dental problems in infants due to deficiency of Calcium like weak roots, irritated gums, and brittle teeth etc.

Causes of Calcium deficiency:

1. Hyper parathyriodism.

2. Lactose Intolerance.

3. Hormonal changes in women.

4. Genetic factors.

5. Menopause among women.

6. Malnutrition.

General Symptoms of Deficiency of Calcium:

1. Fatigue

2. Muscle Cramps.

3. Confusion.

4. Tingling in lips.

5. Tingling in fingers.

6. Black Teeth.

7. Muscle Weakness.

8. Brittle nails.

9. Tooth Decay.

10. Hair Loss.

11. Seizures.

12. Depression.

13. Irregular Heart Beat.

Who are at higher risk of Calcium deficiency?

1. Older Adults.

2. Pregnant Women.

3. Teenagers.

4. Obesity (People with overweight).

5. Malnourished children.

Causes of Calcium deficiency in Infants:

1. Hypercalcemia due to

(a) Diabetes in birth mother (b) Low oxygen level (c) Infection

2. Genetic Disorder.

3. Milk Intolerance.

4. Deficiency of Vitamin D.

5. Congenital Hypothyriodism.

Symptoms of Calcium deficiency in Infants:

1. Tremor.

2. Convulsions.

3. Lowered Heart Rate.

4. Eye Fluttering.

5. Low blood pressure.

6. Twitchiness.

7. Insomnia.

Calcium Rich foods:

1. Milk.

2. Cheese.

3. Eggs.

4. Grains

5. Grams.

6. Fish.

7. Beans.

8. Broccoli.

9. Soy Milk.

10. Spinach.

11. Nuts and Seeds especially almonds and Sesame seeds. 

(Also Read: Which is Best for Health: Natural Seeds or Medicine!)

Intake of Calcium:

Age Group	Quantity (mg/day)
0-6 months	200
6-12 months	260
1-3 years	700
4-8 years	1000
9-13 years	1300
14-18 years	1300
19-30 years	1000
31-50 years	1000
51-70 years (Male)	1000
51-70 years (Female)	1200
>70 years	1200

Note: Normal range for adults 8.8-10.4 milligram/deciliter (mg/dL).

Side effects of too much consumption of Calcium:

1. Cardiovascular disease.

2. Kidney Stone.

Symptoms of high Calcium level in Body:

1. Nausea.

2. Vomiting.

3. Frequent Urination.

4. Increases Thirst.

5. Constipation.

6. Abdominal Pain.

7. Loss of Appetite.

Tests to diagnose deficiency of Calcium:

1. Complete Blood Count Test (CBC).

2. Amount of Calcium in Urine (Urine Test).

3. Total Calcium Test (Calcium attached to specific protein in blood is measured).

4. Ionized Calcium Test (Calcium unattached or free from protein is measured).

5. X-ray to check density of bone.

Under which diseases Calcium test is also required:

1. Kidney disease.

2. Thyroid.

3. Malnutrition.

4. Cancer.

Calcium Test results higher than normal value indicates:

1. Hyperparathyriodism means parathyroid gland produces too much parathyroid hormone.

2. Paget’s disease of bone means bones becomes big, weak, prone to fractures.

3. Overuse of antacids.

4. Excessive use of Vitamin D.

5. Cancer.

Calcium Test results lower than normal value indicates:

1. Hypoparathyriodism means parathyroid gland produces too little parathyroid hormone.

2. Vitamin D deficiency.

3. Magnesium deficiency.

4. Pancreatitis (Inflammation of Pancreas).

5. Kidney disease.

Drug Interaction and Calcium Supplements:

1. Antibiotics: Calcium decreases how much antibiotic your body absorbs.

2. Beta blocker and Calcium channel blocker drugs for cardiovascular disease.

  

(Also read: Why Heart Attack is more among Men as Compared to Women?)

3. Birth Control Pills.

4. Thyroid drugs.

At last we can conclude that both Calcium and Vitamin D are interconnected with each other. Both are essential to keep bones healthy throughout life. Efficiency of Calcium and Vitamin D absorption decreases as people become aged. Thus Calcium intake is recommended for people who are above 70 years of age.   

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