Calcium Osteopenia Osteoporosis

Calcium Osteopenia  Osteoporosis was authored by: Dr. Safaa A. Mahran (MD), consultant Physical Medicine , Rheumatology & Rehabilitation . Assiut University, Egypt.

Calcium Osteopenia  Osteoporosis.  Osteopenia is considered a silent
disease because bone loss can occur gradually without symptoms. However, 2 behaviors that can help in the prevention of osteoporosis are calcium intake and exercise behavior.

Bone formation and maintenance: changes throughout the lifecycle:  99% of calcium is found in teeth and bone. Only 1% is found in  serum.  The priorities of bone formation differ by population  group. In children and young adults, emphasis is placed on  strong baseline bone growth and structure. By ages 25-30, the  majority of new bone formation is completed.

After this growth period, emphasis is placed on maintaining bone density and
 preventing loss. After the age of 50, bone density often  decreases substantially  so the goal at this life cycle phase  is to sustain bone mineral  density and minimize bone loss. Progressive bone mineralization loss over time increases the risk of bone fracture and falling.  So you have to think of your bones as a bank for calcium. If you have enough calcium intake during  youth, you will be safe during your elder years.

Do you have to measure the calcium level in your blood?   Serum calcium does not fluctuate with changes in dietary intake. The smallest drop in serum calcium below the normal level will trigger an immediate response. The body is ready to transfer calcium from other sources like the bones to maintain normal serum calcium levels and prevent hypocalcemia (low calcium level) usually within minutes . Thus, serum calcium is  not an accurate indicator of calcium stores in the body. Normal  serum calcium level is usually found even with severe Osteopenia.

Risky populations: Calcium Osteopenia Osteoporosis

Calcium is lost from the bones of females who do not consume sufficient amount of calcium daily: postmenopausal  women , female athletes triad (female athletes who experience the 3 following conditions:  eating disorders, amenorrhea and
osteoporosis),premature (early) amenorrhea  of any cause,  individuals with milk allergy or lactose intolerance and  other risky populations as  adolescents and elderly.

Adolescents throughout the world are growing in risk due to dietary pattern changes. Many adolescents decrease calcium intake by substituting other beverages for dairy products or by decreasing their total intake of calcium.

How much Calcium Osteopenia Osteoporosis is enough?

Recommended daily requirement of calcium ranges between 700-1200 mg /day in most  countries.  Levels above 2500 md /day are toxic

Is calcium by itself enough to build strong bones?

No. Calcium needs help from other elements to work well in your body. the most important  are phosphorus, vitamin D, and protein. Dietary protein is required transform vitamin D to an active form. vitamin D is necessary to move the calcium from the intestine to the blood.

What are good sources of calcium?

Dairy products (milk, cheese , yoghurt, etc.)are the most familiar sources of calcium. One cup of milk (236.6 ml) contains  approximately 270 gram of calcium. For people who have trouble  digesting dairy products because of lactose intolerance,
 lactose-free dairy products and lactase enzyme pills are also  available. Most aged cheese, including cheddar, Colby and parmesan are naturally lactose-free.
 
Other non-dairy sources of calcium include Sardines, dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, turnips, and collard greens, fortified cereals such as Total, Raisin Bran, Corn Flakes (They have a lot of calcium in one serving.), fortified orange  juice, soybeans, fortified soymilk (Not all soymilk is a good  source of calcium, so it's best to check the label.) and enriched breads, grains, and waffles.
 
Caffeine appears to decrease calcium absorption by a small  amount. Drinking more than three cups of coffee every day  may be harmful to bone health. If you enjoy drinking coffee  and tea, you can help to make up for any calcium loss by
 getting enough calcium from other sources to meet your body’s needs.

When to consider calcium supplements:

Sometimes it is very difficult to get the proper amount of calcium through the diet, and calcium supplementation becomes an option.

There are many types of calcium compounds available to use. The  most popular are Calcium carbonate and Calcium citrate. Calcium carbonate is effective and is the least expensive form of calcium. It is best absorbed with a low-iron meal (such as breakfast). Calcium carbonate may not be absorbed well in people who also take a specific medication for gastro-esophageal reflux (called a proton pump inhibitor or
H2 blocker), which blocks stomach acid.
 
Calcium citrate is well absorbed in the fasting state.Calcium doses above 500 mg are not well absorbed, so large amounts should be taken in divided doses (e.g., in the morning  and evening).

General Tips : Calcium Osteopenia Osteoporosis

In general, you shouldn't take supplements that you don’t need.  Calcium supplements are available without a prescription in a  wide range of preparations (including chewable and liquid) and in different amounts. The best supplement is the one that meets your needs based on convenience, cost and availability.

When choosing the best supplement to meet your needs, keep the  following in mind Choose brand-name supplements with reliability. Look for labels that state  “purified” or have the  USP (United States Pharmacopeia) symbol.

The “USP Verified   Mark” on the supplement label means that  the USP has tested and found the calcium supplement to meet  certain standards for purity and quality.

Read the product label carefully to determine the amount of  elemental calcium, which is the actual amount of calcium in  the supplement, as well as how many doses or pills to take.  When reading the label, pay close attention to the “amount per  serving” and “serving size.”

Calcium is absorbed best when taken in amounts of 500 – 600 mg  or less. Calcium doses above 500 mg are not well absorbed, so large doses of supplements should be taken in divided doses (eg, in the morning and evening).

The use of vitamin D in conjunction with oral calcium supplements  is more effective than calcium alone.

When starting a new calcium supplement, start with a smaller amount to better tolerate it. When switching supplements, try  starting with 200-300 mg every day for a week, and drink an  extra 6-8 ounces of water with it. Then gradually add more
 calcium each week.

Side effects from calcium supplements, such as gas or constipation may occur. If increasing fluids in your diet does not solve the problem, try another type or brand of calcium. It may require trial and error to find the right supplement for  you, but fortunately there are many choices.

Calcium supplements interfere with the absorption of iron and thyroid hormone and, therefore, these medications should be taken at different times.
    
There is little evidence that consuming large amounts of calcium (from foods and drinks) increases the risk of kidney stones,  or that consuming small amounts of calcium decreases the risk.  In fact, avoiding dairy products is likely to increase the risk  of kidney stones. However, use of calcium supplements may increase the risk of kidney stones in IIIIsusceptible individuals  by raising the level of calcium in the urine.

This is particularly true if the supplement is taken between  meals or at bedtime.     Talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about possible interactions between prescription or over-the-counter medications and calcium supplements.

End of article: Calcium Osteopenia Osteoporosis

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