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Calcium supplements

They are products that are used in case an adult or child does not get the proportion of this important mineral from their diet, or because their requirements are higher than usual.

Calcium is very abundant in the human body, since it represents between 1.5 and 2% of the total body weight of an adult (between 900 and 1,300 g on average). It is estimated that about 99% of this element is located in bones and teeth, while the remaining percent circulates in the blood or is found in body tissues, participating in the transmission of nervous system signals and muscle activity and from the heart.



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A decrease in the levels of calcium in the blood forces the body to take the mineral it needs from the bones, and therefore it is important that the shortage be compensated by eating foods rich in this element, such as milk and its derivatives (dairy products). ), sardines, salmon, green leafy vegetables, tofu, sesame seeds, amaranth, parsley and dried fruits.

When the human body is unable to maintain the mineral content of the bone system, either because the intake of calcium is less than the demand of the body and / or because there are factors that hinder the regeneration of bones (such as the climacteric or menopause, in that the levels of protective hormones in the body of the woman decrease, the estrogens), these lose density and they become thinner, porous and fragile, giving place to osteoporosis .

Thus, in general terms the consumption of calcium supplements is important in the prevention and treatment of numerous conditions or conditions where the constitution of the bone system could suffer weakening, although it is worth mentioning that additional benefits have also been discovered, for example, in circulatory problems .

Extended use

Reliable and consistent scientific research has shown that calcium supplements are useful in the following cases:

Osteoporosis by age. During the climacteric or menopause (between 40 and 50 years) there is a drastic decrease in the production of estrogen, and is one of the main causes of the weakening of the female bony system. To compensate for this situation, many doctors recommend the use of a calcium supplement , which acts much better when it is administered together with phytoestrogens (foods of plant origin that have substances similar to female hormones) or hormone replacement therapy (in which the substances that the organism has stopped generating are administered).

For its part, the decrease in testosterone in men (a fact that occurs between 50 and 70 years) is a risk factor for osteoporosis , only that the loss of these protective chemicals is less drastic than in its female counterpart and, therefore, the Decalcification occurs more slowly. Therefore, to prevent complications, the use of supplements is usually recommended to older men.

The most common way to prevent the loss of calcium in the bones , both in female and male patients, consists in the constant consumption of foods rich in this mineral before 30 years of age, since it allows the bones to be in good condition. been and better resist aging. In this sense, some doctors also recommend the consumption of calcium supplements from before the third decade of life, especially to women with deficiencies in their diet or who have been mothers.

Lactose intolerance. It is a condition that manifests itself with abdominal pain, diarrhea and flatulence, and that occurs when a person is unable to digest this specific type of sugar found in milk and many of its derivatives.

The patient must omit dairy from their diet to avoid the annoying symptoms that characterize this problem, but doing so deprives one of the best sources of calcium in the diet . Therefore, it is very important to provide alternative sources of this element, both through food and supplements.

Rickets. It is a pediatric disorder that occurs due to lack of vitamin D , which is a substance that allows the absorption of calcium in the intestine and regulates the levels of this mineral in the bones; therefore, it can cause bone weakening and skeletal deformities.

Its therapy and prevention includes a diet rich in fish, liver and milk, greater exposure to the sun (the light of the "sun king" helps the skin generate vitamin D) and the use of calcium supplements .

Gestational hypertension. Several studies have shown that calcium supplementation helps control the increase in blood pressure that some women suffer during pregnancy, even when this problem is accompanied by fluid accumulation and protein loss in the urine ( preeclampsia ).

It should be emphasized that both gestational hypertension and preeclampsia can cause damage to various organs of the fetus, such as liver and kidneys, and that any treatment undertaken should be supervised by the doctor.

Premenstrual syndrome. It has been observed that women who consume more calcium in their diet are less likely to suffer the annoying symptoms they experience days before menstruation, such as abdominal swelling, headache, swelling in the breasts, fluid retention, acne, lack of concentration and irritability. Supplements of this mineral can be used in very severe cases, under the gynecologist's criteria.

Pregnancy and lactation. It is very important that the calcium in the blood of the mother stay at adequate levels during both stages, because this guarantees both the good development of the fetus and the child receives the necessary amount of this mineral for growth. Through blood tests, feeding analysis and observation of symptoms (such as suffering from night cramps in the legs), the doctor can consider the convenience of using supplements.

In addition to all the above, some scientific studies have shown some efficacy of calcium supplements in patients with circulatory problems, such as elevated levels of fats (cholesterol and triglycerides) in blood, or nutritional deficiencies in celiac disease (gluten intolerance, substance contained in wheat and in many processed foods), anorexia (loss of weight due to stopping eating) or bulimia (repeated episodes of excessive consumption of food followed by vomiting or use of laxatives), and malnutrition .

Responsible administration

Despite the invaluable help that a calcium supplement can offer , its consumption is not something that should be taken lightly. By principle of accounts it should be noted that each of the conditions and conditions that we have indicated requires particular dosage, depending on the age and severity of the problem, in addition to which it must be constantly evaluated and adjusted by the doctor.

Second, it should be noted that the calcium found in both food and medicine is not in pure form, but is associated with other substances, forming compounds or salts, and that each of them is used in different ways by our organism.

In this sense, there are supplements made with pidolate or calcium phosphate, whose effectiveness is relatively good but not as high as that offered by the products whose formula includes any of these two salts:

•     Calcium carbonate. It is the compound that is used more frequently, but requires a high amount of stomach acid for digestion; therefore, it must be consumed with food; Sometimes it irritates the stomach wall.
•     Calcium citrate Without a doubt, it is the supplemental form that is better absorbed; it does not require the presence of extra stomach acid to dissolve and, therefore, it is rare that it generates discomfort.

It should also be noted that the consumption of calcium supplements must adhere to certain rules and restrictions, in order to prevent unwanted effects:

•     The dose indicated by the doctor must be respected at all times, since an increase in it can trigger digestive problems such as constipation (difficulty in evacuating the bowel), abdominal inflammation and gas. The specialist should be consulted when these symptoms occur, in order to adjust the amount administered.
•     High amounts of calcium also generate a greater propensity to develop kidney stones (pebbles inside the kidney), in addition to which they can strain this organ more. Therefore it is necessary that every person with problems in the urinary system consult the general practitioner or urologist and explain their case before using these products.
•     Due to their intervention in circulatory and muscular functions, people with heart and hormonal problems should avoid the consumption of calcium supplements without having consulted the cardiologist or endocrinologist about their convenience.
•     Medical evidence has shown the possibility that calcium is not absorbed properly when fiber, coffee, cola, black tea, cigarettes and laxatives (which accelerate intestinal evacuation) are consumed, so it is advisable to reduce or eradicate its use during the treatment.
•     Vitamin D is necessary for calcium to be absorbed, so it is recommended the use of food supplements containing calcium or calcium supplements enriched with this substance. It is also necessary to take the Sun for 15 or 20 minutes a day.
•     The consumption of large amounts of calcium can hinder the absorption of magnesium and phosphorus, so that prolonged treatment for strengthening the bones should contemplate the use of multivitamins that help the body to acquire them.
•     Some research has suggested that calcium supplements may favor the appearance of cancer (growth of malignant cells that form tumors) in the prostate, so those who have been detected or have a propensity to suffer from it should avoid using it or , at least, consult the urologist before your employment.
•     There are medications that can have an adverse reaction when consumed in combination with calcium supplements, so the doctor should be informed of any ongoing treatment.

Finally, it should be noted that in recent times there has been considerable publicity to some mineral supplements "of natural origin", such as bone meal, dolomite, coral calcium and oyster shell, as it is said that their use and absorption are much better than with those formulas obtained in the laboratory. However, scientific evidence has not supported such a claim and, instead, have shown that these products may have high concentrations of lead, toxic metal. Therefore, we recommend avoiding consumption and choosing the products that your specialist recommends.