A number of elements and minerals are present in the human body in different amounts, from iron to carbon to phosphorous and calcium, among others. Calcium, in particular, is well known for being a building block of the bones and teeth, and a lack of calcium may threaten not only a person’s skeleton but other body parts too. A person may suffer other adverse effects if they are deficient in vitamin D or other vitamin C, and supplements for calcium and others may be taken if need be. A person’s doctor may order calcium supplements for them, and a person may also find and order calcium supplements online for osteoporosis and other problems if need be. When a person is taking calcium supplements for osteoporosis or other conditions, they are taking charge of their heath and working to avoid the ill effects of calcium deficiencies. What else is there to know about the human body’s need for calcium, and what might happen if they need calcium supplements for osteoporosis, for example?
What Calcium Can Do
The human body cannot function without calcium, and an excess of it may also be harmful. According to Mayo Clinic, not only does calcium help establish strong bones and teeth, but research suggests that it and vitamin D is vital for the heart, muscles, and even the nervous system as well. A good supply of calcium will help a person protect their body from such ill effects such as diabetes or cancer. And of course, if a person suffers from a deficiency of this element, they may take calcium supplements for osteoporosis before that condition gets worse. Many adults are low on their calcium, as are some children under 18 years old. Lacking this element may cause a child to grow up under their correct height, and adults may face weak bones and osteoporosis, as mentioned earlier. Women in particular may be at risk, and they may often take these calcium supplements for osteoporosis.
Getting the Calcium
The exact amount of calcium that a person should consume in a given day varies based on their age and sex, with one or two grams being roughly the optimal amount. The human body is incapable of producing this element for itself, so people obtain calcium with their diets. Dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, and milk are well known calcium sources, but there are more too, such as dark and leafy greens such as broccoli and kale. Fortified soy products, cereal, and even juices may offer calcium as well for any consumer. Calcium is not alone, however, and a person needs vitamin D in order to fully digest that calcium. A person can get their vitamin D through sun exposure and eating foods that are fortified in it, as well as egg yolks or canned salmon with bones. Someone who is low on this vitamin may order vitamin D supplements as well as some calcium supplements if need be.
Who in particular may order calcium supplements in particular? Vegans may have great need for it, since they do not consume dairy products, and lactose intolerant individuals also have need for these supplements. Inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease are known for disrupting the intestines’ ability to consume calcium, so individuals with those conditions may also consider getting some calcium supplements from their doctor. Of course, a person’s body may contain too much of any given element or substance, and calcium is no exception. A person looking for calcium supplements should be careful that they are not pushing their calcium levels too high, and individuals who have conditions that hypercalcemia may have too much calcium in their blood. If this person’s doctor knows how much calcium they are already consuming through food or other supplements, then the doctor can prescribe a correct amount to avoid an excess of calcium.
Different supplements contain different amounts of calcium, and a patient may be prescribed one or more of them. Common calcium supplements may be calcium lactate, for example, which have 13% elemental calcium in them. Or, a supplement might have more of this element in them, such as calcium carbonate, which has as much as 40% calcium in it. Absorbability, quality, and costs will be other factors to review with one’s doctor.
