Hypocalcemia: Calcium Deficiency

Chronic deficiency of calcium may result in rickets, osteoporosis, osteopenia, dental changes, and may also disrupt metabolic rate of body and may cause alterations in the brain.

In India, around 6 crores (61 million) people have osteoporosis, out of which 80% are women.

If you have following symptoms, you must get your calcium level checked:

·         Painful muscle spasms and cramps.

·         Twitching of muscles.

·         Numbness or tingling in feet and hands.

·         Numbness or tingling around the mouth.

There are many forms of calcium supplements available like Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Citrate, Calcium Citrate Malate, Coral Calcium, Calcium Phosphate, Calcium Orotate, Calcium Aspartate, Calcium Acetate, etc. Calcium Carbonate is the most easily available and economical form of calcium and has 40% of elemental calcium. Calcium Acetate is used to control high phosphorus level in patients with chronic kidney disease. Calcium Asparartate and Orotate both has highest level of elemental calcium (approx 92%). Both these forms are acid resistant and so can survive stomach acid. Coral calcium is derived from natural source but it has low accuracy for elemental calcium. Calcium Citrate and Calcium Citrate Malate is the most easily absorbed calcium form and so has minimum risk of Stone formation and bone enlargement which happens in the case of other forms of Calcium, if taken for a long period of time.

Cissus Quadrangularis reduces bone fracture healing period. During pregnancy, Cissus Quadrangularis stimulates the development of fetal bone growth during the intra–utrine development period, and vitamin K2-7 calalyse bone mineralisation process.

Important:

1.    Understand how much calcium you’re getting from your diet, before you take supplements. Taking too much calcium can be bad for your health. An adult shouldn’t take more that 1200 mg of calcium within a day as a supplement, unless instructed by your doctor.

2.     Divide calcium into smaller doses as our body can absorb only 500 mg calcium at a time.

3.    Our body needs vitamin D (cholecalciferol) for better absorption of calcium. It increases calcium absorption by 20% to 50%.

Natural Sources of Calcium:

Include Ragi, green leafy vegetables, soya beans, Rajma, brown chala, milk, yogurt, cheese, almonds, dates, oranges, spinach etc in your daily diet.