By: Dr. Abhishek Kr. Pandey, Medical Correspondent-ICN
LUCKNOW: Calcium, a major component of human skeleton provides shape, stature and structure. It is the fifth most abundant element in human body with 99% of it stored in bones and teeth.
The structural formation of human bones requires various minerals like phosphorus, magnesium, silicon, strontium etc. along with Calcium which maintains the bone health. Our skeleton houses and protects internal organs like brain, spinal cord, heart, intestines etc. and undergoes rapid bone formation using calcium during childhood and adolescence. Vitamin D, plays an important role to maintain normal blood calcium levels and intestinal absorption of renal calcium and phosphorus. It also functions as a cofactor in the blood clotting cascade and maintains potential difference across excitable cell membranes.
Maintenance of mother’s Calcium levels at the time of pregnancy are essential for catering to the increasing calcium requirement of a rapidly mineralising skeleton of foetus/neonate. Maternal calcium deficiency in a pregnant women or lactating women can hinder cardiovascular development in foetus and pose a risk of high blood pressure, increased body fat percentage, elevated triglycerides and insulin resistance in children as they grow.
The dietary sources of Calcium includes Cheese, milk, yogurt, sardines, and salmon with bones, apricots, nuts, vegetables like spinach, cabbage, legumes, soy products like tofu etc.
The calcium deficiency or Hypocalcaemia causes disease like Rickets, sleep difficulties, paraesthesia, Dental problems etc.
Insufficient levels of Calcium and high phosphorus intake causes yellowish and brittle teeth, caries, poor dentition, tooth loss, periodontal disease and gingivitis among children.
Normal calcium levels directly foster a healthy sleep cycle, as it plays vital role in production of sleep hormone, melatonin using tryptophan. Difficulties to sleep and insomnia observed in infants and young children are signs of less than normal level of Calcium in body.
Excessive Calcium levels in human body is usually eliminated through urine and intestines but long term overdose of Calcium leads to it’s accumulation in kidneys, liver, gallbladder causing stone formation, in the arteries as plaques and in joints as calcium deposits and malformed bones making the skeleton thin and weak.
Any disorders observed with calcium levels are treated with supplementing the deficient nutrient/mineral along with prescribing medications to treat any underlying causative conditions. Assessment of Calcium intake following a well rounded calcium rich diet while leading an active lifestyle with regular exercises or mild regular sports, ample sunlight exposure etc. are also very beneficial.
