As vitamin D gets more into the spotlight for everyday citizens we see another great result.
Almost 70,000 people participated in a study in the US and Europe and found that taking vitamin D with calcium reduced fractures.
So not only is vitamin D necessary to supplement for those of us living in northern climates it reduces the chance of breaking a leg.
In addition to the vitamins our body needs are the minerals. However minerals are in our body in small amounts. They only comprise about 4 percent of our body weight. Yet these inorganic substances found in the earth’s crust as well as many foods are esential. They are necessary in bone formation as well as digestion and normal functioning of the heart.
The body contains more than 60 different minerals, but only 22 are thought to be essential. Then seven of these–including clacium, chloride,magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and sulfur–are usually called macrominerals. The other 15 minerals are called trace minerals, or microminerals, because the amount the body needs is extremely small.
Today we’ll look at calcium.
Calcium is essential for many bodily functions. This includes the transmission of nerve impulses, the regulation of muscle contraction and relaxation, blood clotting, and various metabolic activities. Calcium is most known by the average person for making strong bones. So with taking calcium for preventing osteoporosis vitamin D is included to help in the absorption of calcium.
There are numerous forms of calcium supplements: calcium carbonate (the most common and inexpensive), calcium citrate (the best absorbed but relatively expensive), calcium phosphate, calcium lactate, and calcium gluconate. Since calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate are hard to absorb the other calcium products are preferable.
Although it’s the most abundant mineral in the body, most adults get only half of what they need each day. The majority of the body’s calcium is stored in the bones and teeth. The small amount in the bloodstream helps move nutrients across the cell membranes. If there is not enough calcium in the bloodstream it will steal calcium from the bones.
Newer studies have increased the daily intake for men and women up to age 50 at 1,000 mg and 1,200 for people over 50.
If you get too much, say 2,500 daily from food and supplements, it may hinder the absorption of zinc, iron and magnesium.
For more information on calcium you can check: Guide to Drugs and Supplements, Reader’s Digest, 2007