Symptoms of calcium deficiency

Calcium

Calcium is a chemical element in the periodic table of elements. A light gray alkaline earthmine is used as a dilute factor to extract thorium and uranium, the fifth element in abundant abundance on the earth’s crust. It is a vital contributor to living organisms because of its important role in living cell functions.

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body. Calcium is 1.5% to 2% of body weight. It accounts for 39% of the minerals in the body. About 99% of this amount is concentrated in bones and teeth. The remaining 1% is in the blood and cells of the body, where it performs important metabolic functions, and the concentration of calcium in blood plasma is accurately set between 8.8 mg / dl to 10.8 mg / dl.

Daily Calcium Requirements by Age Group (DRI)

The following table shows the daily calcium requirements by age group:

Symptoms of calcium deficiency

• Inadequate intake of calcium during growth prevents the bones from reaching optimal density and mass, which reduces the risk of osteoporosis in later years.
• Calcium deficiency in the diet does not cause symptoms such as pain. The thyroid gland continues to withdraw calcium from the bones to the blood, thus maintaining a constant calcium level in the blood. There is also no shortage of it. This causes a decrease in bone mass, Time to osteoporosis.
• Calcium deficiency with vitamin D deficiency causes osteoporosis, and in children it is called a rickster and accompanied by a delayed growth.
• Calcium deficiency increases the risk of many chronic diseases, such as colon cancer and high blood pressure.

Calcium functions in the body

• Calcium is a key element in building bones and teeth. Eating sufficient amounts of calcium in pre-puberty and adolescence is essential for proper bone growth. Bone growth at these stages is especially important for girls. It is a factor in preventing osteoporosis and postmenopausal fractures. .
• After menopause, enough calcium helps maintain bone health. The thyroid hormone prevents thyroid from withdrawing calcium from the bones into the blood, which occurs after age due to lack of calcium in the diet, thus reducing the risk of osteoporosis. .
• It has a role in transport functions in cell membranes, and in the transport of ions between cell membranes.
• Has a key role in the regulation of heartbeat, as high blood calcium level may cause failure in the work of the heart or breathing.
• Calcium is necessary in the contraction of the muscles of the voluntary body, and in the case of lack of blood calcium from its normal, it leads to a state of involuntary contractions of muscles in the body, known as muscle spasm.
• The regulation of the transmission of nerve impulses, as calcium regulates the secretion of neurotransmitters in the synaptic connections in nerves.
• Has a role in the formation of blood thrombus, as calcium stimulates thromboplastin secretion of platelets, and it converts the prothrombin to thrombin, which helps in the process of polymerization of fibrinogen to fibrin and in the final stage of thrombosis.
• Calcium enters the process of activating the work of many enzymes, such as: the enzyme lipase produced by the pancreas to digest fat.
• Calcium plays an important role in keeping blood pressure normal, and eating enough amounts to prevent high blood pressure.
• Some studies suggest a relationship to calcium in the prevention of high cholesterol, diabetes and colon cancer.
• Calcium contributes to the protein synthesis of DNA and RNA, as its concentration determines the activation or inhibition of their formation.

Calcium absorption

Calcium absorption varies according to the age and physiological needs of the body. The healthy adult body absorbs an average of 25% to 30% of the calcium intake, and there are many factors that increase the absorption of calcium. The acidic medium in the stomach keeps the calcium soluble and absorbable. Vitamin D is one of the most important factors for calcium absorption. It builds the protein that binds to calcium and carries it to the blood. Calcium absorption occurs in all parts of the small intestine, but the absorption is faster in the 12 because of the acidic medium. Because of the lower parts of the middle basement, but the amount absorbed in the lower parts are higher.,

The absorption of calcium increases by increasing the physiological need in the body, as the body increases the composition of the protein linked to calcium, and this is evident in the years of growth, where the proportion of absorption to 50% – 60% and in pregnancy and lactation to 50%, and increase absorption rate if not taken The recommended daily amounts of calcium, and its absorption rate to 25% after growth and slow or stop bone growth, while less absorption in the elderly, especially in women after menopause.

In contrast, vitamin D deficiency inhibits calcium absorption. Dietary fiber, oxalic acid found in various amounts in leafy vegetables, and fetic acid in whole grains are linked to calcium and weaken its absorption. However, high dietary sources of fiber and whole grains remain food items of high nutritional importance , But they are not good sources of calcium, and health conditions that reduce the absorption of fat also reduce the absorption of calcium, because of the association of fatty acids with calcium, and the exit with the stool.

Food sources of calcium

• Milk and dairy products, such as milk, cheese and cheese. This group represents the highest and most basic source of calcium. A person should take three servings of this group daily to get enough calcium.
• Some vegetables; such as: parsley, bean, broccoli, green mustard, green turnip, cabbage.
• Some types of marine algae used in Japanese cooking.
• Some green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and green beet, contain high amounts of calcium, but also contain substances that prevent its absorption (oxalic acid) and are therefore not a good source.
• Some kinds of nuts such as: almonds, and some types of seeds such as sesame: nuts.
• Calcium-fortified juices, such as: natural orange juice, fortified with calcium.
• Oysters and fish eaten in large quantities such as: (sardines, canned salmon)
• Bread contains a small amount of calcium, but eating it a lot makes it a good source of calcium.

Treatment of calcium deficiency

The prevention of calcium deficiency by eating enough since childhood to prevent the problems of deficiency that may not be compensated by treatment, and treat the lack of calcium by increasing the intake of calcium sources in the diet, the doctor may prescribe calcium pills for the patient at different doses as the case, and may Vitamin D is prescribed with exposure to sunlight if calcium deficiency is accompanied by vitamin D deficiency because of its important role in absorption. Calcium or vitamin D are taken only as a doctor.

Calcium toxicity

Eating calcium in very high amounts, such as eating 2,000 mg or more daily, especially in people with high levels of vitamin D may lead to serious conditions, such as: calcification in soft tissues such as kidney tissue, and eating high amounts of calcium may impede absorption Some minerals, such as iron, zinc, and manganese, should be spaced between calcium and iron grains if taken in a single stage such as pregnancy. It is recommended to take calcium with food and iron on an empty stomach if possible. To constipation.