Calcium

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• QWhat is the role of calcium in my body?

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  A Dole Nutrition Institute answered

  Calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth, which is where 99 percent of this mineral is stored in the body. Calcium also plays a role in nerve-impulse transmission and in the constriction and relaxation of blood vessels and muscles. Approximately 88 percent of adult females and 63 percent of adult males don’t get enough calcium.

  Bone health
  One of the most serious consequences of a calcium deficiency is that the body will actually leach needed calcium from the bones, which can lead to osteoporosis. A British study showed that risk of fracture was 75 percent higher in women whose dietary calcium intakes were less than 525 milligrams per day than for those whose intakes were over 1,200 milligrams per day.

  Cancer prevention
  A study of nearly half a million people by the National Institutes of Health found that diets rich in calcium from food sources may help protect against over 10 different types of cancer, the most common being prostate, breast, lung and colorectal.

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• QHow much calcium should a child have in their diet?

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  A Dr. Tanya R. Altmann, MD , Pediatrics, answered

  In most cases, 2 or 3 servings a day of calcium-rich food is all that your child needs. Toddlers require about 500 mg of calcium daily and can meet these needs from drinking about 2 servings (16 ounces or 2 cups) of milk. (Each cup of milk contains about 300 mg of calcium.) If your child refuses milk, offer 2 to 3 servings of other calcium-rich options like yogurt, cheese, green veggies, or orange juice with added calcium.
• QCan calcium supplements increase my risk of heart attack?

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  A SCAI answered

  While more research is needed, heart attack risk may rise for women when they begin calcium supplementation (with or without vitamin D), according to a recent analysis of research study data from the Women’s Health Initiative and other studies.
  
  A heart attack is caused when blood flow through the coronary arteries that supply blood to your heart is cut off. In coronary artery disease, plaque -- a fatty substance made up of cholesterol, calcium, and other materials -- builds up in the coronary arteries. The plaque can narrow the arteries, and vulnerable plaques can rupture, causing a blood clot to form that can block blood flow.
  
  Because calcium is one of the components of plaque, various researchers have conducted studies to see if calcium supplements can contribute to heart attacks. A study in 2011 in the British Medical Journal analyzing data from the Women’s Health Initiative (a large, long-term study sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) found that women who began supplementation with calcium were more likely to have a heart attack over a five-year period (approximately 6 heart attacks per 1,000 women). Women who had already been taking calcium before joining the study did not have an increase in heart attack risk. So researchers theorize that a sudden change in calcium intake may increase heart attack risk.
  
  These findings reflect the findings of only one study. In fact, other studies have found mixed results. For now, you may want to discuss any concerns you have with your physician and weigh your personal risk of bone fractures versus your risk for a heart attack when considering supplementation.
• QWhat are calcium supplements?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  People who don't get enough calcium in their diets or who need additional calcium for other reasons may use calcium. Children and adults alike can use calcium, but it is important that the doses are adjusted for age groups and calcium need. Calcium is known to be beneficial for:

  • low calcium levels
  • indigestion and heartburn
  • high phosphate levels
  • osteoporosis and other bone disease
  • pregnancy and breastfeeding
  • fetal and infantile bone strength
  • symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

  Sometimes people with other conditions take calcium, but it hasn't yet been proven to be effective for other uses.
  
  

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• QHow can I take calcium supplements effectively?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Your body can most effectively absorb calcium if you take it in doses of 500 milligrams (mg) or less a few times during the day. Also, you may absorb more calcium from a chewable or liquid supplement than from a pill, because a pill may not dissolve easily in the stomach.
  
  Calcium carbonate, a form of calcium often found in over-the-counter chewable antacid pills, is best taken with low-iron meals, such as breakfast. Calcium citrate, another form available in supplements, can be taken on either an empty or full stomach.
  
  Talk with your pharmacist or doctor about your other prescription and over-the-counter medicines to make sure they are not reducing the effectiveness of your calcium supplement. You may need to adjust your medicines or supplements to make sure you’re getting enough calcium. And taking a vitamin D supplement can help increase the absorption of calcium.

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• QDo calcium pills cause breast calcifications?

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  A Dr. Janine L. Carson, MD , Diagnostic Radiology, answered on behalf of Sanford Health

  

  Certain kinds of breast calcifications can be a sign of breast cancer -- so it's understandable that many women with calcifications worry about taking calcium pills. In this video, Dr. Jan Carlson discusses whether these pills can cause calcifications.

  

  Find out more about this DVD:

  Dr. Jan Carson - Breast Tissue Calcification
  Buy DVD
• QWhat calcium supplements are beneficial for men?

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  A dotFIT answered

  If you are unable to meet your calcium needs through your diet, then any calcium supplement can be useful. The highest amount of calcium by weight is calcium carbonate, at 42%. It is absorbed best with food. The next most popular and highest amount of calcium is calcium citrate at 21%. When it is taken is not an issue. Look for calcium supplements that also include vitamin D and magnesium, as they are involved with proper calcium metabolism.
• QWhat side effects does Calcium Citrate (Citracal) cause?

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  A MediGuard answered

  Based on information from iGuard.org, a free medication monitoring service, 15% of patients experience side effects while taking Calcium Citrate (Citracal). Some of the side effects reported by iGuard members include: Constipation, Bloating/Gas, Swallowing Problems, and Diarrhea. Please follow up with your doctor or other healthcare provider if you are experiencing any symptoms that worsen or do not go away.
• QWhat is the correct daily dosage for calcium citrate with vitamin D?

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  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Your doctor will tell you what an appropriate dose of calcium citrate with vitamin D is for you. Maximum daily dosage may differ depending on your age and condition. Your body's calcium needs range higher as you get older. For most adults, 1000 mg. of calcium per day from food and supplements suffices. Adults above 50 years of age require about 1200 mg. of calcium per day. Doctors do not recommend more than 2500 mg. a day for most adults.
  
  

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• QIf I don’t get enough calcium in my diet, should I supplement?

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  A National Academy of Sports Medicine answered

  If there are any deficiencies in your diet you should consider supplementation. But, before going this route, estimate your calcium intake via nutritive values of foods charts or with a registered dietitian.

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