99% of the calcium in your body is found in the bones, while the remaining 1% is located in the blood. It’s essential in giving structure and hardness to your teeth and bones. However, it also has other functions, such as helping the blood clot. It aids in heartbeat and muscle contraction as well. The body can’t produce calcium. You can get it from the food you eat. Did you know you lose calcium daily through sweating, urinating, and bowel movement? You also lose calcium in your nails, skin, and hair. This is why you must include calcium-rich food in your diet to replace what you’ve lost. Calcium serves many purposes in the body. Muscles need it to move, and nerves need it to carry messages from the brain to different parts of the body. It also aids blood vessels in circulating blood all over the body and releasing hormones necessary to function correctly. It’s important to note that the body also needs Vitamin D for calcium absorption. Is It Important to Take a Calcium Blood Test? A calcium blood test measures the amount of calcium you have in your body. Like other minerals, you must have normal calcium levels, as too much or too little can cause serious health problems such as bone, kidney, and thyroid diseases. As mentioned, you need vitamin D to absorb calcium. The lack of vitamin D prevents the body from producing the hormone calcitriol, which helps absorb calcium. Bone health will be put at risk without them. This is where a calcium test comes in. You can comprehensively analyse your calcium levels through the Vitall Vitamin & Minerals Home Test Kit or Vitall Vitamins and Minerals Complete Home Test Kit. They include an at-home finger-prick blood test. Once you have collected your sample, it’ll be analysed through an accredited laboratory, and you’ll get fast and accurate results in 24 hours. [TEST] The Functions of Calcium in the Body Just like other minerals, calcium serves many functions in the body, proving its importance. It plays a crucial role in the following: Building strong teeth and bones Helping blood clots Transmitting nerve signals Squeezing and relaxing muscles Keeping a regular heart rate Hormonal secretion Sufficient calcium intake is most important during childhood and adolescence because it helps achieve bone mass and prevents osteoporosis during adulthood. It also influences age-related bone loss, which can lead to osteoporosis. How Calcium Can Affect Health Calcium deficiency has negative consequences for the body. Here are some of them: Bone health in older adults People slowly lose calcium by the time they reach 30. In middle age, they experience faster bone loss, making their bones weak and fragile, with some more prone to broken bones or fractures. It’s most common among women. A bone mineral density test measures bone health. It can determine if your bones are strong and healthy or not. Some studies claim that taking calcium supplements can increase bone density among older individuals, but some prove they don’t. Also, further studies need to be conducted on the effectiveness of these supplements in preventing fractures. More research needs to be done to determine whether consuming more calcium from food sources or supplements is more effective in improving bone health among older adults. Cancer Some studies proved that high calcium intake can lower the risk of colon and rectum cancers, while others claimed otherwise. Some research shows that men with high calcium intake from dairy products are more prone to prostate cancer. Meanwhile, other studies claimed that calcium doesn’t affect one’s chances of getting cancer or dying from it. More research must be done to understand better the relationship between calcium intake from foods or supplements and how it can affect one’s cancer risk. Preeclampsia Preeclampsia occurs during late pregnancy with symptoms like high protein levels in the urine and high blood pressure. Some studies proved that taking calcium supplements can help reduce the risk of preeclampsia, especially among pregnant women with low calcium intake. Metabolic syndrome This severe health condition can increase the risk of heart-related diseases, diabetes, and stroke. The symptoms include having a large waistline, high triglycerides levels, low levels of good cholesterol or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high blood sugar levels, and high blood pressure. You may have metabolic syndrome if you experience any three of these symptoms. Some research claims that high calcium intake can reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome among women. What is Calcium Deficiency Disease? Calcium is an essential mineral in the body. It’s responsible for building strong bones and teeth and helping the heart and other muscles of the body to work correctly. Insufficient calcium can cause serious health problems such as calcium deficiency disease or hypocalcaemia. In children, not getting sufficient calcium can prevent them from growing to their fullest potential height when they become adults. Also, calcium deficiency can have negative impacts on bone mass. If you don’t consume calcium with energy and protein, your bones can have low calcium content, making you prone to bone diseases, especially when you get older. Meanwhile, some factors can contribute to bone mineral losses, such as gender, hormones, and physical activities. For instance, it’s common for women to have a bone mineral loss when they start menopause. Along with age, declining bone mineral density can cause osteoporosis. It’s a medical condition wherein the bones become weaker and more fragile to breakage or fracture. Moreover, calcium can affect one’s mental health. Hypercalcaemia or high calcium levels is linked to poor mental health and other physical symptoms that can affect the quality of life. What Causes Calcium Deficiency? The risk of calcium deficiency increases with age. There are many contributing factors to it, such as: Low calcium intake, especially in childhood Taking medications that hinder calcium absorption Hormonal changes, especially in women Genetic factors It’s vital to take sufficient calcium at all ages. For instance, women must meet the recommended calcium requirement earlier in life than men. They must have proper calcium intake as they approach menopause. Women must also ensure sufficient calcium intake during menopause to prevent osteoporosis and calcium deficiency disease. That’s because their body starts to decrease, producing the hormone estrogen, causing their bones to become thinner faster. Another common cause of calcium deficiency disease is hypoparathyroidism, a hormone disorder. It’s characterized by poor parathyroid hormone production, which is responsible for controlling calcium levels in the blood. Hypocalcaemia can also be caused by malnutrition and malabsorption of calcium. Malnutrition occurs when your body doesn’t get enough nutrients, while malabsorption happens when your body fails to absorb vitamins and minerals from your diet. Other causes are: taking certain medications, especially those used in treating elevated calcium levels hyperphosphatemia hypermagnesemia hypomagnesemia pancreatitis septic shock renal failure too much blood transfusions certain chemotherapy medications “hungry bone syndrome” parathyroid gland tissue removal Please take note that one doesn’t become calcium deficient overnight after missing out on calcium for a few days. However, getting your daily dose of sufficient calcium is vital because the body uses it fast. Further, the body maintains calcium levels by taking the mineral from your bones, so you won’t feel calcium deficiency symptoms immediately. However, having long-term low calcium levels can have harmful effects on the body. Vitamin D Disorders Resulting in Hypocalcemia Hypocalcemia can also be caused by inherited and acquired vitamin D disorders and their metabolism. This is why many products like milk, bread, and cereals are fortified with vitamin D. Those with restricted or specialized diets are more prone to vitamin D deficiency. This includes breastfeeding infants because there’s less vitamin D in breast milk. The lack of sunlight absorption can also lead to vitamin D deficiency. People who aren’t exposed to solar ultraviolet B radiation, use excessive sunscreen and protective clothing, or have skin pigmentation are also prone to deficiency. Liver disease can lower vitamin D levels, too, specifically parenchymal and cholestatic liver diseases. Renal diseases like chronic renal failure can also cause declining vitamin D levels. What are the Symptoms of Hypocalcemia? Unfortunately, calcium deficiency at an early stage may not have symptoms, but it will develop as it progresses. Meanwhile, people can also take a calcium blood test or blood test for vitamins to determine whether they have it. Hypocalcemia can affect different body parts, so many can experience all kinds of symptoms. Calcium is also vital in releasing neurotransmitters and contracting muscles. Here are some of the common signs to watch out for: Memory loss Confusion Tingling or numbness in the face, hands, and feet Muscle spasms and cramps Slower hair growth Depression Hallucinations Brittle nails Bones are easily fractured How to Diagnose Calcium Deficiency Disease Contact your doctor immediately if your calcium blood test or blood test for vitamins isn’t normal or if you experience the calcium deficiency disease symptoms mentioned above. They’ll thoroughly review your medical history and conduct additional tests if necessary. To be sure, your doctor with take your blood sample and check your total and ionized or “free” calcium levels. Your albumin will also be checked. Albumin is a protein that binds to calcium and helps transport the mineral through your blood. According to the Merck Manual, the average calcium levels for adults are 8.8 to 10.4 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). You have calcium deficiency if your level is below 8.8 mg/dl. It’s also common for adults to have lower calcium levels than children and teenagers. How to Treat Hypocalcemia The good news is there are many treatments for hypocalcemia. You can start by adding more calcium to your diet. Do this by consuming calcium-rich foods like the following: 1. Dairy products Include dairy products like cheese, yogurt, and milk in your diet. They are packed with calcium and easily absorbed by the body. Cheeses are also protein-rich, while yogurt has probiotics that can improve heart health. 2. Green leafy Vegetables Always have leafy greens in your diet. They’re packed with vitamins and minerals, including calcium, vitamins A and C, magnesium, and potassium. They are high in antioxidants, too. 3. Seeds These tiny nutritional powerhouses are big on calcium. Poppy, celery, sesame, and chia seeds are high in calcium and contain protein and healthy fats. 4. Canned salmon and sardines These fish products are packed with calcium because of their edible bones. They also contain protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which promote a healthier heart, brain, and skin. Further, they’re high in selenium, which helps protect the body from infections and cell damage. 5. Calcium-fortified foods Nowadays, you can easily find all kinds of calcium-fortified foods. Aside from dairy, there are juices and bread fortified with calcium. 6. Recommended calcium supplements Calcium supplements are widely available. However, never self-treat by taking them without consulting your doctor. You’re putting yourself at risk of kidney stones if you take more than the recommended dose. They also come in tablet, chewable, or liquid forms. One of the most famous calcium supplements is calcium carbonate. It’s the least expensive and contains the most elemental calcium. Another is calcium citrate, which is best absorbed by the body, and calcium phosphate, which can be easily absorbed without causing constipation. Take note that there are medications that don’t go well with calcium supplements, such as the following: Blood pressure beta-blockers that may hinder calcium absorption when taken wrongly Antacids with aluminum can increase aluminum blood levels Cholesterol-lowering bile acid sequestrants that can cause poor calcium absorption and increase calcium loss in the urine Estrogen medications which may increase calcium blood levels Diuretics can increase or decrease calcium blood levels 7. Other treatments If the cause of hypocalcemia is hypoparathyroidism, your doctor may advice you to take a synthetic form of parathyroid hormone or PTH. Severe hypocalcemia accompanied by muscle spasms or cramps can be treated by receiving an IV containing calcium gluconate. Calcium is highly important to the body. That’s why you must include calcium blood test or blood test for vitamins in your regular health check. Summary Table Topic Summary Role of Calcium Calcium is essential for body functions like bone and teeth formation, blood clotting, nerve signal transmission, muscle contraction, maintaining regular heart rate, and hormonal secretion. Calcium Intake The body can't produce calcium and it must be obtained from diet or supplements. Calcium is lost daily through sweat, urine, bowel movements, as well as through hair, nails, and skin. Importance of Vitamin D Vitamin D is needed for the body to absorb calcium. Lack of vitamin D prevents the body from producing the hormone calcitriol, which helps absorb calcium. Calcium Blood Test Measures the amount of calcium in the body, useful for determining calcium levels and preventing related health issues. Impact of Calcium Deficiency Deficiency can lead to bone health issues in older adults, cancer risks, preeclampsia in pregnant women, and metabolic syndrome. Calcium Deficiency Disease (Hypocalcemia) Caused by insufficient calcium, it impacts bone mass and can lead to osteoporosis. Other contributing factors include age, hormonal changes, genetics, and certain medications. Symptoms of Hypocalcemia Includes memory loss, confusion, tingling or numbness in extremities, muscle spasms and cramps, slower hair growth, depression, hallucinations, brittle nails, and easily fractured bones. Treatment for Hypocalcemia Include increasing dietary intake of calcium-rich foods, taking recommended calcium supplements, and certain treatments for severe cases. Importance of Regular Health Check Regular health checks including calcium blood tests are vital to maintain optimal health and prevent calcium deficiency.