CalciumBy Claire Jones

Calcium

Most abundant mineral in the body

Required for vascular contraction and vasodilation, muscle function, nerve transmission, intracellular signaling, and hormonal secretion.

1% of the body contains serum calcium which is needed to support metabolic functions

99% of the body’s calcium supply is stored in the bones and the teeth

What is the RDA/DRI for the nutrient?

How is the nutrient metabolized?

The bioavailability of calcium depends on age, and our need for it.

Infants and children can absorb more than 60%

Pregnant and lactating women can absorb about 50% of dietary calcium

Healthy young adults may only absorb about 30%

When calcium needs are high our bodies have the ability to increase its absorption of calcium in the small intestine

• Bioavailability also depends on how much calcium we consume throughout the day or at one time

• Our body cannot absorb more than 500 mg of calcium at any one time

• Binding factors such as fiber, phytates, and oxalates occur naturally in some calcium rich seeds, nuts, grains, and vegetables can bind to the calcium in these foods and prevent their absorption from the intestine.

• Consuming calcium at the same time as zinc, magnesium, or phosphorus has the potential to interfere with the absorption and utilization of all of these minerals.

• Vitamin D is necessary for absorption of calcium

What are the food sources of the nutrient?

Milk

Yogurt

Cheese

Sardines

Cabbage

Kale

Broccoli

Spinach

Fortified grains

What disease states alter the nutrients metabolism?

Juvenile osteoporosis: caused by juvenile arthritis, diabetes mellitus, osteogenesis imperfecta. Ostogenesis imperfecta is a genetic disorder that is also characterized by easily fractured bones

Hyperparathyroidism: disorder in which the parathyroid glands in your neck produce too much parathyroid hormone due to low calcium levels.

Hyperparathyroidism: disorder in which the parathyroid glands in the neck do not produce enough parathyroid hormone

DiGeorge Syndrome: primary immunodeficiency disease associated with susceptibility to infections due to poor T cell production and function.

What are the tests or procedures to assess the nutrient level in the body?A blood calcium test is ordered to screen for,

diagnose, and monitor a range of conditions relating to the bones, heart, nerves, kidneys, and teeth.

It measures how much calcium is in the body but not in the bones.

Total calcium levels are often tested in routine health screenings such as the comprehensive metabolic panel an basic metabolic panel.

Other tests that can measure ionized calcium, urine calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin d, and parathyroid hormone.

What is the drug-nutrient interactions?

Corticosteroids, biphophonates cause a decrease in calcium excretion

Calcitonin may increase or decrease calcium

Loop diuretics increase the excretion of calcium

Laxatives can cause malabsorption

Antihyperlipidemic

How is the nutrient measured?

Calcium is measured using a blood sample

Normal values range from 8.5 to 10.2 mg/dL

What is the Upper Tolerable limit?

What are the physical signs of deficiency?

Numbness and tingling of fingers

Muscle cramps

Convulsions

Lethargy

Poor appetite

Abnormal heart rhythms

Long term: Osteoporosis, increased risk for bone fractures, and rickets disease

What are physical signs of toxicity?

Constipation

Increased risk of kidney stones

References

"Calcium." Calcium. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/calcium/tab/test>.

"Calcium." Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: — Health Professional Fact Sheet. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/>.

"Calcium." — QuickFacts. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-QuickFacts/>.

Dugdale, David C., MD. "Calcium- Blood Test." Medline Plus. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003477.htm>.

Thompson, Janice L., Ph.D. Nutrition: An Applied Approach. 2nd ed. San Francisco: Pearson Education, 2009. Print.