Calcium as a nutrient is not useful to health in isolation. For example, utilization of calcium depends on adequate vitamin D status. Dietary sodium greatly influences renal calcium reabsorption.
Calcium intake is very beneficial for patients that suffer from acute or chronic convulsions, osteoporosis, concentration disorders, headaches, allergies etc.
A deficiency of calcium, whether from decreased provision, decreased absorption or increased excretion, can result in numerous disease situations, especially pertaining to bone. Calcium deficiency leads to anemia, osteoporosis, dental cavities, irregular menses, severe headaches, sexual problems (loss of libido and sexual appetite, erectile dysfunctions etc.), emotional disorders (stress, anxiety, chronic depression), sleep disorders (insomnia) and many other dysfunctions.
Dairy products tend to be the greatest contributors of calcium to the human diet. As much as 55% of calcium in the American diet is derived from dairy products. In smaller quantities, it is found in meat, vegetables (parsley, peas, carrots, kohlrabi, celery, lettuce, radish, scallion, but not in spinach), soy beans and all soy products. Calcium is also present in fruits, bread and fish.
Too much calcium in the blood leads to several disorders or, more severely, to lethargy, confusion and even coma. This can happen to patients that take high amounts of calcium supplements and alkaline substances in the same time (antacid tablets – against gastritis and ulcer symptoms).
It is not uncommon today to find people ingesting very large supplemental amounts of calcium, Sometimes, their intake can climb above 10 times their RDA.
Calcium in human health
