Calcium is important for optimal bone health throughout life. One needs calcium to build and maintain strong bones. The heart, muscles and nerves also need calcium to function properly. Some studies suggest that calcium, along with vitamin D, may have benefits beyond bone health: perhaps protecting against cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure. Since, our body doesn't produce calcium, we must get it through other sources. Although a nutritional diet is the best way to get required amounts of calcium, calcium supplements may be an option if a persons diet is providing insufficient Calcium thereby causing a deficiency.
Hypocalcemia, commonly known as calcium deficiency disease, occurs when calcium levels in the blood are low. A long-term deficiency can lead to dental changes, cataracts, alterations in the brain, and osteoporosis, which causes the bones to become brittle. Complications of hypocalcemia can be life-threatening, and if the condition goes untreated, it could eventually lead to death.
A calcium deficiency may have no early symptoms. To avoid complications, a person should seek prompt diagnosis and treatment if they experience any of the symptoms listed below which may become worse as the deficiency progresses.
Minor calcium deficiency symptoms can include:
Numbness
Tingling Fingers
Muscle cramps
Lethargy
Poor appetite
Weak or brittle fingernails
Difficulty swallowing
Fainting
More severe calcium deficiency symptoms can include:
Mental confusion, irritability, depression, and anxiety
Tooth decay
Insufficient blood clotting
Bone fractures
Osteopenia or osteoporosis
Growth and development delays in children
Heart problems involving blood pressure and heart rhythms
Who is at risk for not meeting their daily calcium requirements?
Adolescent girls and boys
Menopausal women and women over age of 50
Men over age 70
Vegans & anyone with dairy intolerance
People who consume large amounts of protein or sodium, which can cause the body to excrete more calcium.
People receiving long-term treatment with corticosteroids.
Have certain bowel or digestive diseases that decrease your ability to absorb calcium, such as inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease
People with dietary restrictions
Some calcium-rich foods include:
Dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt
Beans
Figs
Broccoli
Tofu
Soy milk
Spinach
Fortified cereals
Nuts and seeds, including almonds and sesame seeds
Calcium deficiency can occur for a number of reasons and is most easily prevented through dietary changes. The daily recommended amount of calcium in the diet is 1,000 mg for people aged 19–50, while children, teens, and older adults tend to require more.
It is not a good idea to start taking calcium supplements without first consulting a doctor. Too much calcium increases the risk for cardiovascular disease, kidney stones, and other serious health problems. When a deficiency is severe, or when supplements and dietary adjustments are not achieving sufficient results, a doctor may prescribe calcium injections.
Most people with calcium deficiencies who take supplements or receive injections notice improved symptoms within a few weeks.