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Functions of calcium |
Calcium deficiency | Disease prevention | Disease treatment |
Sources of calcium |
Safety of calcium |
References | ||
Calcium
Calcium is the most common mineral in the human body. About 99% of the calcium in the body is found in bones and teeth, while the other 1% is found in the blood and soft tissue. Calcium levels in the blood and fluid surrounding the cells (extracellular fluid) must be maintained within a very narrow concentration range for normal physiological functioning. The physiological functions of calcium are so vital to survival that the body will demineralize bone to maintain normal blood calcium levels when calcium intake is inadequate. Thus, adequate dietary calcium is a critical factor in maintaining a healthy skeleton (1).
Britain’s Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA) recommends a minimum reference calcium intake of 700 mg per day for both men and women (49). In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set the recommended intake at 1000 mg. According to the National Diet and Nutrition Survey by the British Nutrition Foundation, the median British male consumed 987 mg of calcium per day in 2001. Women consumed 763 mg per day. Approximately 52% of British males and 77% of females consume less than 1000 mg calcium per day.
To learn more about calcium, please click below:
The function of calcium in the human body
Effects and causes of calcium deficiency
The role of calcium in the prevention of disease
The role of calcium in the treatment of disease