Re: Calcium?

Question

Eating calcioum foods, drinking milk,,, do calcium supplements tablets help to prevent bone loss? That also includes the bones in the jaw.
or does it just protect hip and other bone breaks and fractures in the other parts of the body?

Answer 1

Calcium is the mineral that helps give our bones the strength and stiffness to carry us around and protect our internal organs. Healthy bones go through a continual cycle of remodeling as parts of the bones are reabsorbed and then rebuilt. Without sufficient calcium, our bones can't grow properly, nor can they maintain their strength as we age.

Calcium is found in many different foods. It's also the most abundant mineral in our bodies. Our teeth and bones contain 99 percent of our body's calcium, mostly in the form of calcium phosphate. Our tissues, blood, and other fluids contain the remainder.

It helps with..

Regulating the heartbeat

Conducting nerve impulses

Stimulating hormone secretions

Stimulating blood clot formation


If your doctor has told you that you are at risk for osteoporosis, a condition that involves thinning bones and increased risks of fractures, or if you already have osteoporosis, think of calcium as a very important ally. Taking calcium can reduce your risk of fractures and increase the effectiveness of your osteoporosis treatments.




If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you'll need more calcium than the normal amount listed for a woman your age. Talk to your doctor about how much calcium you should be taking. In most cases, you may want to increase your calcium intake to 1300 mg (milligrams) a day.

If you have osteoporosis, or are at risk for the condition, your daily calcium intake should be 1,200 to 1,500 mg per day. If you are taking estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) or hormone replacement therapy (HRT), your doctor may advise you to take 1000 mg a day.

Calcium Supplements
Even when we eat a balanced diet with plenty of foods that are high in calcium, we don't always get enough calcium to fit our bodies' needs. If you (or someone you take care of) fit into one of the following categories, you probably need more calcium than the amount you are getting from simply eating calcium-rich foods:

Pregnant and breastfeeding women

Children

Adolescents, especially girls

Women and men who have or are at risk for osteoporosis

Postmenopausal women

People who take glucocorticoid (steroid) medications for chronic conditions such as asthma or rheumatoid arthritis


In nature, calcium occurs in combination with other substances, forming a "compound." Calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and calcium citrate are examples of the calcium compounds used in calcium supplements. What we're really after is the "elemental" calcium. This is the pure calcium that will help strengthen our bones.

Some calcium compounds contain more elemental calcium than others. For example, calcium carbonate has more elemental calcium than calcium gluconate. If a particular calcium supplement is made of calcium carbonate and each tablet contains 625 mg, the amount of elemental calcium in each tablet will be about 250 mg.

If you're shopping for a calcium supplement, be sure to read the labels. Ideally, the number of milligrams listed should refer to how much elemental calcium each tablet contains, not simply to the strength of each tablet as a whole.

You should try to avoid calcium supplements derived from unrefined oyster shells, bone meal, or dolomite (calcium magnesium carbonate) that do not display the USP (United Pharmacopeia) symbol. These supplements may contain high amounts of lead of other heavy metals.

In some cases, calcium supplements can cause digestion problems like gas, constipation, or a slight upset stomach. If you're taking calcium for the first time, try starting with a low dose and gradually increasing to your recommended dose. You can also try switching to different forms of calcium.

Calcium supplements come in a wide variety of dosage forms, including tablets, chewable tablets, capsules, powders, and liquids. There's even a calcium supplement disguised as a chewy chocolate candy. Ask your doctor about the type and form of calcium that's right for you.

A Question of Absorption
As a mineral, calcium can pass right through your body without doing any good if steps aren't taken to make sure it's properly absorbed. Today, the makers of most calcium supplements have taken care of the absorption question, but if you're not sure, there's one sure way to find out. Place the tablet in a small amount of warm water. If the tablet hasn't dissolved within 30 minutes, it probably won't dissolve in your stomach.

Chewable and liquid forms of calcium are usually more likely to be absorbed by your body because they've already been partially broken down.

Calcium is absorbed best when taken several times a day, rather than all at once. Of course, if you are unlikely to remember or don't have the time to take supplements at different times during the day, taking your supplement all at once is better than not taking it at all.

If you're taking calcium citrate, you can take it at any time. If you're taking calcium carbonate, it will be absorbed best if you take it with some food.

Answer 2

You need calcium for bone growth and maintenance.....for all bones in your body. It is really important to get enough calcium in your diet to prevent the bones from deteriorating (osteoporosis), which will cause hip fractures and other breaks easily. It is important to remember to take vitamin D with calcium because Vitamin D helps your calcium be absorbed...without it the calcium won't be helpful. If you don't eat enough calcium it is important to take supplements and make sure they contain Vitamin D, otherwise make sure you eat things with vitamin D fortified in it (some orange juices, milks). The average intake is generally 1200mg, but will vary depending if your male/female and age. Avoid taking too much calcium (like 3-4 times more than needed) because you could get kidney stones.

Answer 3

Calcium is best known for helping to build strong bones and teeth.

Key Functions:

1) Most of the calcium from food goes straight to the teeth and bones, where it is used for building and maintaining strength.

2) Calcium is also used throughout the body to help muscles contract, enable blood to clot, transmit messages along nerves, produce energy, keep the heart beating, and maintain the immune system.

3) If calcium intake is low, the body takes what it needs from the bones. This can cause the bones to become thin and brittle.

See source below.

Answer 4

Usually more is required than just calcium, including vitamin D, exercise, and even bone sparing/building products like actonel or fosamax. Talk to your doctor. But yes, these work for the entire body and not just the hip, and other fractures.

Answer 5

Taking calcium or eating calcium-rich foods will help prevent bone loss all over your body.

Answer 6

Taking calcium really does help the body overall...Their is no particular part of the body it help more than others.....

Answer 7

i think that its good for all our teeth and bones there is also a vitamin that helps us absorbe it better its either A or D