calcium - Medical Dictionary

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calcium		A basic element found in nearly all organized tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes. [ Articles \| Books \| Images \| Discussion groups ]

Additional comments : Dietary Calcium Associated With Reduced Risk Of Kidney Stones In Younger Women Including more calcium in the diet may help to reduce the risk of kidney stone formation in younger women. According to researchers, diet plays an important role in the development of kidney stones. In older men and women, higher levels of dietary calcium, sodium, animal protein, and sucrose (sugar) may be associated with a reduced risk of developing kidney stones. A compound called phytate (found in plants and cereal grains) may also play a role and might inhibit the formation of kidney stones by preventing tiny crystals of calcium oxalate (which is a component of kidney stones) from forming. Source: Journal Of The American Medical Association Supplemental Calcium Taken Daily Can Limit Early On-Set Of Osteoporosis In Children With Severe Asthma Children with severe asthma should take an over-the-counter calcium supplement and a multi-vitamin every day to prevent bone loss associated with the disease. Bone densitometry scans were performed to all children during their treatment at National Jewish Center. Children also met with nutritionists, who found daily calcium intake to be low. Children whose records were examined took steroids daily, every other day or intermittently. Simply taking 1,000 mg/day of calcium available in any drug store can help stop osteoporosis in children with severe asthma. Parents of children with asthma should check with their child's physician before starting any new medical treatments. Source: National Jewish Medical And Research Center New Research Clarifies Roles Of Calcium, Vitamin D, And Protein In Bone Health, Fracture Risk New research shows calcium in food might do more to protect bones than supplemental calcium in pill form. Bones lose calcium as they age, making them vulnerable to osteoporosis and fractures. Calcium's bone strengthening benefits don't accrue in isolation - vitamin D also promotes healthy bone mass by enhancing calcium absorption. Now, researchers report that high dose vitamin D supplements taken for osteoporosis prevention and treatment need sufficient calcium to be effective. Osteoporosis, in which the bones become porous and break easily, is one of the world's most common and debilitating diseases. The result: pain, loss of movement, inability to perform daily chores, and in many cases, death. One out of three women over 50 will experience osteoporotic fractures, as will one out of five men. Source: International Osteoporosis Foundation Healthy Gums Are Likely To Lie Behind Milk Mustaches Adults who consume at least three servings of calcium each day have another reason to smile. A study found that people who get enough calcium have significantly lower rates of periodontal disease, a leading cause of tooth loss. Researchers analyzed government data on calcium consumption and periodontal disease indicators in nearly 13,000 people representing U.S. adults. They found that men and women who had calcium intakes of fewer than 500 milligrams, or about half the recommended dietary allowance, were almost twice as likely to have periodontal disease, as measured by the loss of attachment of the gums from the teeth. The association was particularly evident for people in their 20s and 30s. Source: American Academy Of Periodontology Calcium May Protect Women From Cancer A University of Minnesota Cancer Center study found that women consuming more than 800 milligrams of calcium each day reduced their risk of colorectal cancer by as much as 26 to 46 percent. A 26 percent reduction in risk of colorectal cancer occurred regardless of whether the calcium intake was from diet or supplement. Among women who consumed high levels of calcium from both diet and supplements, the risk reduction was almost double that observed for calcium from either source by itself. The findings provide further evidence in a growing body of research that indicates a link between calcium and prevention of colorectal cancer. This study is good news for women because they comprise about half of the approximately 150,000 people in the United States diagnosed annually with colorectal cancer. The cancer ranks as the second leading cause of cancer death, and the risk of contracting it increases with age. Source: University Of Minnesota New Model Shows Calcium Control Is Key For Synapse Homeostasis A research team based at Brown University has created a theoretical model that may shed light on a brain science mystery: What happens to cells when humans learn and remember? Researchers have come up with a concept that hinges on calcium control. Certain receptors, which act like gates, allow calcium to rush into brain cells that receive memory-making information. Once inside these cells, calcium sets off chemical reactions that change the connections between neurons, or synapses. That malleability, known as synaptic plasticity, is believed to be the fundamental basis of memory, learning and brain development. Source: Brown University Purdue research shows added calcium benefits women on the pill Women who take oral contraceptives can counteract bone loss by making sure they have enough calcium in their daily diet, especially early in life, according to Purdue University research. Earlier research has indicated that optimizing bone mass in adolescence and young adulthood prevents low bone density and osteoporosis later in life. On the other hand, oral contraceptives appear to decrease bone density. According to the National Academy of Sciences, the recommended dietary allowance of calcium for women age 19 to 50 is 1,000 milligrams a day. The recommended daily allowance of calcium for adolescents age 9 to 18 is 1,300 milligrams a day. Source: Purdue University New research shows calcium deficiency permits faster lead release from pregnant women's bones Pregnant women who don't consume enough calcium in their diets or through supplements show greater increases in lead in their bloodstreams than pregnant women with normal calcium levels, according to researchers. That is because 95 percent of the body's lead is contained in bone tissue, which, in pregnant women getting less calcium turns over, or "demineralizes," more rapidly than bone in other pregnant women and releases locked-up lead into the blood, researchers found. Lead emerges from bone during the second half of pregnancy and might hurt both mothers and their babies, their work showed. The study also offers new evidence that calcium consumption can minimize bone demineralization in pregnant women. Source: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Diets rich in calcium and vitamin D may decrease risk of PMS A diet rich in calcium and vitamin D may lower the risk of developing premenstrual syndrome (PMS), according to a study in the June 13 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. While most women may experience mild emotional or physical premenstrual symptoms, as many as eight to 20 percent of women experience symptoms severe enough to meet the definition of premenstrual syndrome, characterized by moderate to severe symptoms that substantially interfere with normal life activities and interpersonal relationships, according to background information in the article. Previous studies have suggested that calcium supplements and vitamin D, a hormone that regulates the absorption of calcium, may reduce premenstrual occurrence and severity. Source: JAMA and Archives Journals Getting the most from your calcium supplement Many women (and men) can benefit from calcium supplements to their diets. Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers these tips to make sure you are getting the most from calcium supplements: With food or not? - Calcium carbonate supplements (Caltrate, Oscal, Tums) require stomach acid for digestion and are generally absorbed better when taken with meals. Calcium citrate (Citracal) doesn’t require stomach acid and can be taken anytime. Small amounts best - Calcium is better absorbed in smaller amounts throughout the day. Adequate Vitamin D - Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium. You should consume 400 to 600 international units a day through your diet or a supplement. Source: Mayo Clinic Calcium is not as readily absorbed from soy milk as from cow's milk Soy milk is growing in popularity because of many perceived health benefits by the public of consuming soy. The present study by Heaney et al. in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examines the comparative bioavailability of calcium in soy milk when compared to cow's milk, and finds soy milk less calcium-rich at current levels of fortification. 16 healthy men received 300 mg loads of labeled calcium in either soy or cow's milk during a light breakfast. Calcium absorption was evaluated from the concentration of calcium in serum 5 hours after oral dosing. The brand of soy milk tested by the researchers achieved three-quarters of the absorbability of calcium as cow's milk. The authors recommend that a standard fortification of 500 mg of tricalcium phosphate per serving would result in the same amount of calcium absorbed from a serving of soy milk as would be absorbed from a serving of cow's milk containing 300 mg calcium. Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

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