VITAMINS AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS: CALCIUM: WHAT IS IT?

Calcium, the most abundant mineral in the human body, has several important functions. More than 99 percent of total body calcium is stored in the bones and teeth, where it functions to support their structure [1]. The remaining 1 percent is found throughout the body in blood, muscle and the fluid between cells. Calcium is needed for muscle contraction, blood vessel contraction and expansion, the secretion of hormones and enzymes, and sending messages through the nervous system [2]. A constant level of calcium is maintained in body fluid and tissues so that these vital body processes function efficiently.

Bone undergoes continuous remodeling, with constant resorption (breakdown of bone) and deposition of calcium into newly deposited bone (bone formation) [2]. The balance between bone resorption and deposition changes as people age. During childhood, there is a higher amount of bone formation and less breakdown. In early and middle adulthood, these processes are relatively equal. In aging adults, particularly among postmenopausal women, bone breakdown exceeds its formation, resulting in bone loss, which increases the risk for osteoporosis (a disorder characterized by porous, weak bones) [2].

What Is the Recommended Intake for Calcium?

Recommendations for calcium are provided in the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) developed by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences. DRI is the general term for a set of reference values used for planning and assessing nutrient intakes of healthy people. Three important types of reference values included in the DRIs are Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA), Adequate Intakes (AI) and Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL). The RDA recommends the average daily intake that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97 percent to 98 percent) healthy individuals in each age and gender group. An AI is set when there is insufficient scientific data available to establish a RDA. AIs meet or exceed the amount needed to maintain a nutritional state of adequacy in nearly all members of a specific age and gender group. The UL, on the other hand, is the maximum daily intake unlikely to result in adverse effects.

For calcium, the recommended intake is listed as an Adequate Intake (AI), which is a recommended average intake level based on observed or experimentally determined levels. Table 1 contains the current recommendations for calcium for infants, children and adults.

Table 1: Recommended Adequate Intake by the IOM for Calcium

Source: [2]

There is a widespread concern that Americans are not meeting the recommended intake for calcium. According to the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes of Individuals (CSFII 1994-96), the following percentage of Americans are not meeting the recommended intake for calcium [3]:

· 44 percent boys and 58 percent girls ages 6-11

· 64 percent boys and 87 percent girls ages 12-19

· 55 percent men and 78 percent of women ages 20+

What Foods Provide Calcium?

In the United States, milk, yogurt and cheese are the major contributors of calcium in the typical diet [4]. The inadequate intake of dairy foods may explain why some Americans are deficient in calcium since dairy foods are the major source of calcium in the diet [4]. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Guide Pyramid recommends that individuals 2 years and older eat two to three servings of dairy products per day. A serving is equal to:

· 1 cup (8 fl. oz.) of milk

· 8 oz. of yogurt

· 1.5 oz. of natural cheese (such as cheddar)

· 2 oz. of processed cheese (such as American)

A variety of non-fat and reduced fat dairy products that contain the same amount of calcium as regular dairy products are available in the United States today for individuals concerned about saturated fat content from regular dairy products.

Although dairy products are the main source of calcium in the U.S. diet, other foods also contribute to overall calcium intake. Individuals with lactose intolerance (those who experience symptoms such as bloating and diarrhea because they cannot completely digest the milk sugar lactose) and those who are vegan (people who consume no animal products) tend to avoid or completely eliminate dairy products from their diets [2]. Thus, it is important for these individuals to meet their calcium needs with alternative calcium sources if they choose to avoid or eliminate dairy products from their diet. Foods such as Chinese cabbage, kale and broccoli are other alternative calcium sources [2]. Although most grains are not high in calcium (unless fortified), they do contribute calcium to the diet because they are consumed frequently [2]. Additionally, there are several calcium-fortified food sources presently available, including fruit juices, fruit drinks, tofu and cereals. Figure 1 compares the amount of food that you would need to eat from certain food sources to get the same amount of calcium that is found in 8 fl. oz. of milk. Table 2 contains additional listings of food sources of calcium.

Table 2: Selected Food Sources of Calcium [6-8]

Daily Values (DV) were developed to help consumers determine if a typical serving of a food contains a lot or a little of a specific nutrient. The DV for calcium is based on 1,000 mg. The percent DV (%DV) listed on the Nutrition Facts panel of food labels tells you what percentages of the DV are provided in one serving. For instance, if you consumed a food that contained 300 mg of calcium, the DV would be 30 percent for calcium on the food label.

A food providing 5 percent of the DV or less is a low source while a food that provides 10 percent to 19 percent of the DV is a good source and a food that provides 20 percent of the DV or more is an excellent source for a nutrient. For foods not listed in this table, please refer to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Nutrient Database Web site at www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/cgi-bin/nut_search.pl.

Helping Hints for Meeting Your Calcium Needs

As the 2000 Dietary Guidelines for Americans states, "Different foods contain different nutrients and other healthful substances. No single food can supply all the nutrients in the amounts you need" [9]. For more information about building a healthful diet, refer to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans at www.usda.gov/cnpp/DietGd.pdf and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Guide Pyramid at www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/Fpyr/pyramid.html [9,10].

The following are strategies and tips to help you meet your calcium needs each day:

· Use low-fat or fat-free milk instead of water in recipes such as pancakes, mashed potatoes, pudding and instant, hot breakfast cereals.

· Blend a fruit smoothie made with low-fat or fat-free yogurt for a great breakfast.

· Sprinkle grated low-fat or fat-free cheese on salad, soup or pasta.

· Choose low-fat or fat-free milk instead of carbonated soft drinks.

· Serve raw fruits and vegetables with a low-fat or fat-free yogurt based dip.

· Create a vegetable stir-fry and toss in diced calcium-set tofu.

· Enjoy a parfait with fruit and low-fat or fat-free yogurt.

· Complement your diet with calcium-fortified foods such as certain cereals, orange juice and soy beverages.

What Affects Calcium Absorption and Excretion?

Calcium absorption refers to the amount of calcium that is absorbed from the digestive tract into our body's circulation. Calcium absorption can be affected by the calcium status of the body, vitamin D status, age, pregnancy and plant substances in the diet. The amount of calcium consumed at one time, such as in a meal, also can affect absorption. For example, the efficiency of calcium absorption decreases as the amount of calcium consumed at a meal increases.

· Age: Net calcium absorption can be as high as 60 percent in infants and young children, when the body needs calcium to build strong bones [2,11]. Absorption slowly decreases to 15 percent to 20 percent in adulthood and even more as one ages [2,11,12]. Because calcium absorption declines with age, recommendations for dietary intake of calcium are higher for adults ages 51 and older.

· Vitamin D: Vitamin D helps improve calcium absorption. Your body can obtain vitamin D from food and it also can make vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight. Thus, adequate vitamin D intake from food and sun exposure is essential to bone health.

· Pregnancy: Current calcium recommendations for nonpregnant women also are sufficient for pregnant women because intestinal calcium absorption increases during pregnancy [2]. For this reason, the calcium recommendations established for pregnant women are not different than the recommendations for women who are not pregnant.

· Plant substances: Phytic acid and oxalic acid, which are found naturally in some plants, may bind to calcium and prevent it from being absorbed optimally. These substances affect the absorption of calcium from the plant itself, not the calcium found in other calcium-containing foods eaten at the same time [6]. Examples of foods high in oxalic acid are spinach, collard greens, sweet potatoes, rhubarb and beans. Foods high in phytic acid include whole grain bread, beans, seeds, nuts, grains and soy isolates [2]. Although soybeans are high in phytic acid, the calcium present in soybeans is still partially absorbed [2,13]. Fiber, particularly from wheat bran, also could prevent calcium absorption because of its content of phytate. However, the effect of fiber on calcium absorption is more of a concern for individuals with low calcium intakes. The average American tends to consume much less fiber per day than the level that would be needed to affect calcium absorption.

Calcium excretion refers to the amount of calcium eliminated from the body in urine, feces and sweat. Calcium excretion can be affected by many factors including dietary sodium, protein, caffeine and potassium.

· Sodium and protein: Typically, dietary sodium and protein increase calcium excretion as the amount of their intake is increased [5,14]. However, if a high protein, high sodium food also contains calcium, this may help counteract the loss of calcium.

· Potassium: Increasing dietary potassium intake (such as from seven to eight servings of fruits and vegetables per day) in the presence of a high sodium diet (>5,100 mg/day, which is more than twice the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of 2,300 mg for sodium per day) may help decrease calcium excretion particularly in postmenopausal women [15,16].

· Caffeine: Caffeine has a small effect on calcium absorption. It can temporarily increase calcium excretion and may modestly decrease calcium absorption, an effect easily offset by increasing calcium consumption in the diet [17]. One cup of regular brewed coffee causes a loss of only 2 mg to 3 mg of calcium, which can be easily offset by adding a tablespoon of milk [14]. Moderate caffeine consumption (1 cup of coffee or 2 cups of tea per day) in young women who have adequate calcium intakes has little to no negative effects on their bones [18].

Other Factors

· Phosphorus: The effect of dietary phosphorus on calcium is minimal. Some researchers speculate that the detrimental effects of consuming foods high in phosphate, such as carbonated soft drinks, is due to the replacement of milk with soda rather than the phosphate level itself [19,20].

· Alcohol: Alcohol can affect calcium status by reducing the intestinal absorption of calcium [21]. It also can inhibit enzymes in the liver that help convert vitamin D to its active form which in turn reduces calcium absorption [3]. However, the amount of alcohol required to affect calcium absorption is unknown. Evidence is currently conflicting whether moderate alcohol consumption is helpful or harmful to bone.

In summary, a variety of factors that may cause a decrease in calcium absorption and/or increase in calcium excretion may negatively affect bone health.

Calcium's Role in Health and Disease Prevention

Calcium and Bone Health
Your bones are living tissues and continue to change throughout life. During childhood and adolescence, bones increase in size and mass. Bones continue to add more mass until around age 30, when peak bone mass is reached. Peak bone mass is the point when the maximum amount of bone is achieved. Because bone loss, like bone growth, is a gradual process, the stronger your bones are at age 30, the more your bone loss will be delayed as you age. Therefore, it is particularly important to consume adequate calcium and vitamin D throughout infancy, childhood and adolescence. It also is important to engage in weight-bearing exercise to maximize bone strength and bone density (amount of bone tissue in a certain volume of bone) to help prevent osteoporosis later in life. Weight-bearing exercise is the type of exercise that causes your bones and muscles to work against gravity while they bear your weight. Resistance exercises such as weight training also are important because they help to improve muscle mass and bone strength.

Examples of weight-bearing exercise:

· Walking

· Running

· Dancing

· Aerobics

· Skating

Examples of non-weight bearing exercise:

· Swimming

· Bicycling

· Water aerobics

Osteoporosis is a disorder characterized by porous, fragile bones. It is a serious public health problem for more than 10 million Americans, 80 percent of whom are women. Another 34 million Americans have osteopenia, or low bone mass, which precedes osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a concern because of its association with fractures of the hip, vertebrae, wrist, pelvis, ribs and other bones [22]. Each year, Americans suffer from 1.5 million fractures because of osteoporosis [23].

Osteoporosis and osteopenia can result from dietary factors such as [11,24,25]:

· Chronically low calcium intake

· Low vitamin d intake

· Poor calcium absorption

· Excess calcium excretion

When calcium intake is low or calcium is poorly absorbed, bone breakdown occurs because the body must use the calcium stored in bones to maintain normal biological functions, such as nerve and muscle function. Bone loss also occurs as a part of the aging process. A prime example is the loss of bone mass observed in post-menopausal women because of decreased amounts of the hormone estrogen. Researchers have identified many factors that increase the risk for developing osteoporosis. These factors include being female, thin, inactive, of advanced age, cigarette smoking, excessive intake of alcohol and having a family history of osteoporosis [26].

In 1993, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized a health claim for food labels on calcium and osteoporosis in response to scientific evidence that an inadequate calcium intake is one factor that can lead to low peak bone mass and is considered a risk factor for osteoporosis [27]. The claim states "adequate calcium intake throughout life is linked to reduced risk of osteoporosis through the mechanism of optimizing peak bone mass during adolescence and early adulthood and decreasing bone loss later in life."

Various bone mineral density (BMD) tests, including those that measure your hip, spine, wrist, finger, shin bone and heel, can help determine bone mass. These tests provide a T-score, which is a measure of bone mineral density that compares an individual's BMD to an optimal BMD of a 30-year-old healthy adult. See Figure 2 below. A T-Score of -1.0 and above indicates normal bone density. A T-score of -1.0 to -2.5 indicates that a person is considered to have low bone mass (osteopenia). A score below -2.5 indicates osteoporosis [28].

Although osteoporosis affects people of different races, genders and ethnicities, women are at highest risk because their skeletons are smaller to start with and because of the accelerated bone loss that accompanies menopause. Adequate calcium and vitamin D intakes, as well as weight-bearing exercise are critical to the development and maintenance of healthy bone throughout the lifecycle. Older adults should strive to maintain recommended daily calcium intakes as well as an adequate vitamin D intake.

Calcium and High Blood Pressure
Some observational studies (type of research study in which the treatment/intervention is observed and not controlled by the researchers) and experimental studies (type of research study in which the researchers control the treatments/interventions and that are assigned to participants) indicate that individuals who eat a vegetarian diet high in minerals (including calcium, magnesium and potassium) and fiber, and low in fat, tend to have reduced blood pressure [29-31].

Findings from some clinical trials (a specific type of experimental study) used to evaluate the effects of one or more treatments/interventions in humans) indicate that an increased calcium intake lowers blood pressure and the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure) [32,33]. However, the results of some studies produced small and inconsistent reductions in blood pressure. One reason for these results is because these research studies tended to test the effect of single nutrients rather than foods on blood pressure.

To help test the combined effect of nutrients, including calcium from food on blood pressure, a study was conducted to investigate the impact of various dietary eating patterns on blood pressure. This study, titled "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH)," was reported in 1997 by the National, Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health. It investigated the effect of various eating patterns on lowering blood pressure. The DASH study was a multi-center research trial where food was provided to more than 450 adults. It examined the effects of three different diets on high blood pressure: a control, "typical American" diet and two modified diets (high fruits-and-vegetables and a combination "DASH" diet — high in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy). See Table 3 for a comparison of some of the components of the three diets.

Table 3: Comparison of the Three Diets Tested in the "DASH" Study

Of the three diets tested, the combination "DASH" diet resulted in the greatest decrease in blood pressure [34]. Thus, this finding from a large and carefully executed clinical trial helped demonstrate that the combination "DASH" diet, with increased calcium, decreased blood pressure [35]. A number of further studies have been done, all showing a similar relationship between increasing calcium intakes and decreased blood pressure [36]. A study conducted after the original "DASH" study, referred to as the "DASH-Sodium" study showed that the DASH diet without sodium restriction provided as much blood pressure reduction as did severe sodium restriction on the control diet (1,500 mg sodium/day) [37]. Overall, it appears that consuming an adequate intake of fruits and vegetables as well as calcium from low-fat dairy products plays a significant role in controlling blood pressure.

Calcium and Cancer

Colorectal Cancer
The relationship between calcium intake and the risk of colon cancer has not been conclusively determined. Observational and experimental research studies investigating the role calcium plays in the prevention of colon cancer show mixed results. Some studies suggest that increased intakes of dietary (low-fat dairy sources) and supplemental calcium are associated with a decreased risk of colon cancer [38-41]. Supplementation with calcium carbonate is reported to lead to reduced risk of adenomas (nonmalignant tumors) in the colon, a precursor to colon cancer, but it is not known if this will ultimately translate into reduced cancer risk [42]. Another study reported on the association between diet and colon cancer history in 135,000 men and women participating in two large health surveys, the Nurses' Health Study and the Physicians' Health Study. The authors found that those who consumed 700 mg to 800 mg calcium per day had a 40 percent to 50 percent lower risk of developing left side colon cancer [43]. However, a few other observational studies found inconclusive evidence regarding any association of calcium intake with colon cancer [44-46]. Although some research findings indicate a protective effect of calcium or low-fat dairy foods against colon cancer, further studies are necessary to confirm this role for calcium.

Prostate Cancer
There is some evidence to suggest that higher calcium (ranging from 600 mg to >2,000 mg of calcium) and/or dairy intakes (>2.5 servings) may be associated with the development of prostate cancer [47-50]. However, these studies are observational in nature rather than clinical trials and cannot establish a definite causal relationship between calcium and prostate cancer. Other findings only show a weak relationship, no relationship at all or the opposite relationship between calcium and prostate cancer [51-54]. Thus, the relationship between calcium intake, dairy intake and prostate cancer risk remains unclear. At the present time, it is recommended that men ages 19 and older consume a "modest" intake of calcium ranging from 1,000 mg to 1,200 mg per day and maintain an intake below the upper tolerable limit (2,500 mg) [1].

Calcium and Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are crystallized deposits of calcium and other minerals in the urinary tract. Calcium oxalate stones are the most common form of kidney stones in the United States. High calcium intakes or high calcium absorption were previously thought to contribute to the development of kidney stones. However, more recent studies show that high dietary calcium intakes actually decrease the risk for kidney stones [55-57]. Other factors, such as high oxalate intake and reduced fluid consumption, appear to be more of a risk factor in the formation of kidney stones than calcium in most individuals [58].

Calcium and Weight Management
Research suggests that calcium, especially calcium derived from dairy products, may help to regulate body fat. Laboratory and animal studies provide initial evidence of calcium's role in decreasing body fat while other studies confirm this potential benefit for humans. At this time, low-fat dairy products seem more beneficial than calcium supplements alone in helping to reduce body fat and reduce weight [59-63]. However, larger studies in humans need to be conducted to help confirm the benefit of calcium for weight loss. Currently, The National Institutes of Health is conducting a small clinical trial to study the effects of supplemental calcium on body weight, body composition, blood lipids and obesity-related conditions such as insulin sensitivity. This clinical trial will be completed in late 2004.

When Can a Calcium Deficiency Occur?

Inadequate calcium intake, decreased calcium absorption and increased calcium loss in urine can decrease total calcium in the body, with the potential of producing osteoporosis and the other consequences of chronically low calcium intake. If an individual does not consume enough dietary calcium or experiences rapid losses of calcium from the body, calcium is withdrawn from their bones in order to maintain calcium levels in the blood.

Signs of Calcium Deficiency

Because circulating blood calcium levels are tightly regulated in the bloodstream, hypocalcemia (low blood calcium) does not usually occur due to low calcium intake, but rather results from a medical problem or treatment such as renal failure, surgical removal of the stomach (which significantly decreases calcium absorption) and use of certain types of diuretics (which result in increased loss of calcium and fluid through urine). Simple dietary calcium deficiency produces no signs at all. Hypocalcemia can cause numbness and tingling in fingers, muscle cramps, convulsions, lethargy, poor appetite and mental confusion [1]. It also can result in abnormal heart rhythms and even death. Individuals with medical problems that result in hypocalcemia should be under a medical doctor's care and receive specific treatment aimed at normalizing calcium levels in the blood. (Please note that the symptoms described here may be due to a medical condition other than hypocalcemia.) It is important to consult a health professional if you experience any of these symptoms.

Who May Need Extra Calcium to Prevent a Deficiency?

Post-Menopausal Women
Menopause often leads to increases in bone loss with the most rapid rates of bone loss occurring during the first five years after menopause [64]. Drops in estrogen production after menopause result in increased bone resorption and decreased calcium absorption [12,65,66]. Annual decreases in bone mass of 3 percent to 5 percent per year are often seen during the years immediately following menopause, with decreases less than 1 percent per year seen after age 65 [67]. Two studies are in agreement that increased calcium intakes during menopause will not completely offset menopause bone loss [68,69].

Hormone therapy (HT), previously known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), with sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, helps to prevent osteoporosis and fractures. However, some medical groups and professional societies such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, The North American Menopause Society and The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research recommend that postmenopausal women consider using other agents such as bisphosphonates (medication used to slow or stop bone-resorption) because of potential health risks of HT if combination HT (estrogen and progestin) is solely being administered to prevent or treat osteoporosis [70-72]. Postmenopausal women using combination HT to reduce bone loss should consult with their physician about the risks and benefits of estrogen therapy for their health.

Estrogen therapy works to restore postmenopausal bone remodeling levels back to those of premenopause, leading to a lower rate of bone loss [65]. Estrogen appears to interact with supplemental calcium by increasing calcium absorption in the gut. However, including adequate amounts of calcium in the diet may help slow the rate of bone loss for all women.

Amenorrheic Women and the Female Athlete Triad

Amenorrhea is the condition when menstrual periods stop or fail to initiate in women who are of childbearing age. Secondary amenorrhea is the absence of three or more consecutive menstrual cycles after menarche occurs (first menstrual period). The secondary type of amenorrhea can be induced by exercise in athletes and is referred to as "athletic amenorrhea". Potential causes of athletic amenorrhea include low body weight and low percent body fat, rapid weight loss, sudden onset of vigorous exercise, disordered eating and stress [73]. Amenorrhea results from decreases in circulating estrogen, which then negatively affect calcium balance [2]. Studies comparing healthy women with normal menstrual cycles to amenorrheic women with anorexia nervosa (a type of disordered eating) found decreased levels of calcium absorption, a higher urinary calcium excretion and a lower rate of bone formation in women with anorexia [74].

The condition "female athlete triad" refers to the combination of disordered eating, amenorrhea and osteoporosis. Exercise-induced amenorrhea has been shown to result in decreases in bone mass [75,76]. In female athletes, low bone mineral density, menstrual irregularities, dietary factors and a history of prior stress fractures are associated with an increased risk of future stress fractures [77]. Stress fractures can severely impact health and cause financial burden, especially in physically active females, such as women in the military [78]. Thus, it is important for amenorrheic women to maintain the recommended Adequate Intake for calcium.

Lactose Intolerant Individuals
Lactose maldigestion (or "lactase non-persistence") describes the inability of an individual to completely digest lactose, the naturally occurring sugar in milk. Lactose intolerance refers to the symptoms that occur when the amount of lactose exceeds the ability of an individual's digestive tract to break down lactose. In the United States, approximately 25 percent of all adults have a limited ability to digest lactose. Lactose maldigestion varies by ethnicity, with a prevalence of 85 percent in Asian Americans, 50 percent in African Americans and 10 percent in Caucasians [79-81].

Symptoms of lactose intolerance include bloating, flatulence and diarrhea after consuming large amounts of lactose (such as the amount in 1 quart of milk) [82]. Lactose maldigesters may be at risk for calcium deficiency, not due to an inability to absorb calcium, but rather from the avoidance of dairy products [2,83,84]. Although some lactose maldigesters avoid dairy products, others are able to consume moderate amounts of lactose, such as the amount in an 8-oz. glass of milk. Some individuals may be able to consume two 8-oz. glasses of milk a day if they do so at different meals [85-87].

Symptoms of lactose intolerance vary from individual to individual depending on the amount of lactose consumed, history of previous consumption of foods with lactose and the type of meal with which the lactose is consumed [88-91]. Drinking milk with a meal helps reduce symptoms of lactose intolerance substantially. In addition, regularly eating foods (e.g., daily for two to three weeks) with lactose (such as milk) can help the body adapt to the lactose and thus reduce symptoms of lactose intolerance [88,90,92]. Other dietary options for lactose maldigesters include choosing aged cheeses (such as cheddar and Swiss), which contain little lactose; yogurt, which contains live active cultures that aid in lactose digestion; or lactose-reduced and lactose-free milk.

If an individual is a lactose maldigester and chooses to avoid dairy products, it is important for them to include non-dairy sources of calcium in their daily diet (see Table 2 for a listing of selected food sources of calcium) or consider taking a calcium supplement to help meet their recommended calcium needs.

Vegetarians
There are several types of vegetarian eating practices. Individuals may choose to include some animal products (ovo-vegetarian, lacto-vegetarian, lacto-ovo vegetarian, pesco-vegetarian) or no animal products (vegan) in their diet. Calcium intakes between lacto-ovo vegetarians (those who consume eggs and dairy products) and non-vegetarians have been shown to be similar [93,94]. Calcium absorption may be reduced in vegetarians because they eat more plant foods containing oxalic and phytic acids, compounds that interfere with calcium absorption [2]. However, vegetarian diets that contain less protein may reduce calcium excretion [1]. Yet, vegans may be at increased risk for inadequate intake of calcium because of their lack of consumption of dairy products [95]. Therefore, it is important for vegans to include adequate amounts of non-dairy sources of calcium in their daily diet (see Table 2) or consider taking a calcium supplement to meet their recommended calcium intake. Furthermore, while early studies found vegetarian diets to be beneficial for bone health, more recent studies have found no benefits or even the opposite effect [96].

Is There a Health Risk of Too Much Calcium?

The Tolerable Upper Limit (UL) is the highest level of daily intake of calcium from food, water and supplements that is likely to pose no risks of adverse health effects to almost all individuals in the general population [2]. The UL for children and adults ages 1 year and older (including pregnant and lactating women) is 2,500 mg/day. It was not possible to establish a UL for infants under the age of 1 year.

While low intakes of calcium can result in deficiency and undesirable health conditions, excessively high intakes of calcium also can have adverse effects. Adverse conditions associated with high calcium intakes are hypercalcemia (elevated levels of calcium in the blood), impaired kidney function and decreased absorption of other minerals [2]. Hypercalcemia also can result from excess intake of vitamin D, such as from supplement overuse at levels of 50,000 IU or higher [1]. However, hypercalcemia from diet and supplements is very rare. Most cases of hypercalcemia occur as a result of malignancy — especially in the advanced stages.

Another concern with high calcium intakes is the potential for calcium to interfere with the absorption of other minerals, iron, zinc, magnesium and phosphorus [97-100].

Most Americans should consider their intake of calcium from all foods, including fortified ones, before adding supplements to their diet to help avoid the risk of reaching levels at or near the UL for calcium (2,500 mg). If you need additional assistance regarding your calcium needs, consider checking with a physician or registered dietitian.

Calcium and Medication Interactions

Calcium supplements have the potential to interact with several prescription and over-the-counter medications. Further information about these interactions is described below. Some examples of medications that may interact with calcium include:

· Digoxin

· Fluroquinolones

· Levothyroxine

· Antibiotics in tetracycline family

· Tiludronate disodium

· Anticonvulsants such as phenytoin

· Thiazide, type of diuretic

· Glucocorticoids

· Mineral oil or stimulant laxatives

· Aluminum or magnesium containing antacids

Calcium supplements may decrease levels of the drug digoxin, a medication given to heart patients [101]. The interaction between calcium and vitamin D supplements and digoxin also may increase the risk of hypercalcemia. Calcium supplements also interact with fluoroquinolones (a class of antibiotics including ciprofloxacin), levothyroxine (thyroid hormone) used to treat thyroid deficiency, antibiotics in the tetracycline family, tiludronate disodium (a drug used to treat Paget's disease) and phenytoin (an anti-convulsant drug). In all of these cases, calcium supplements decrease the absorption of these drugs when the two are taken at the same time [101,102].

Thiazide, and diuretics similar to thiazide, can interact with calcium carbonate and vitamin D supplements to increase the chances of developing hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria (elevated levels of calcium in urine) [102]. Aluminum and magnesium antacids can both increase urinary calcium excretion. Mineral oil and stimulant laxatives can both decrease dietary calcium absorption. Furthermore, glucocorticoids (for example: prednisone) can cause calcium depletion and eventually osteoporosis, when used for more than a few weeks [102].

Supplemental Sources of Calcium

The 2000 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that individuals consume a variety of foods to meet their nutrient needs since no single food can supply all the nutrients in the amounts needed by an individual [103]. However, for some people it may be necessary to take supplements in order to meet the recommended intakes for calcium. In 2002, calcium supplements were the No. 1-selling mineral supplement and the third-highest selling supplement overall in the U.S. nutrition industry, totaling approximately $877 million in sales [104].

The two main forms of calcium found in supplements are carbonate and citrate. Calcium carbonate is the most common because it is inexpensive and convenient. The absorption of calcium citrate is similar to calcium carbonate. For instance, a calcium carbonate supplement contains 40 percent calcium while a calcium citrate supplement only contains 21 percent calcium. However, you have to take more pills of calcium citrate to get the same amount of calcium as you would get from a calcium carbonate pill since citrate is a larger molecule than carbonate. One advantage of calcium citrate over calcium carbonate is better absorption in those individuals who have decreased stomach acid. Calcium citrate malate is a form of calcium used in the fortification of certain juices and also is well absorbed [105]. Other forms of calcium in supplements or fortified foods include calcium gluconate, lactate and phosphate.

The amount of calcium your body obtains from various supplements depends on the amount of elemental calcium in the tablet. The amount of elemental calcium is the amount of calcium that actually is in the supplement. Calcium absorption also depends on the total amount of calcium consumed at one time and whether the calcium is taken with food or on an empty stomach. Absorption from supplements is best in doses of 500 mg or less because the percent of calcium absorbed decreases as the amount of calcium in the supplement increases [106,107]. Therefore, someone taking 1,000 mg of calcium in a supplement should take 500 mg twice a day instead of 1,000 mg calcium at one time.

Some common complaints of calcium supplement use are gas, bloating and constipation. If you have such symptoms, you may want to spread the calcium dose out throughout the day, change supplement brands, take the supplement with meals and/or check with your pharmacist or health care provider.

Figure 3 compares the amount of calcium (elemental calcium) found in some different forms of calcium supplements [108].

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