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Calcium Requirement
	Of the body's total calcium, about 99% is in the bones and teeth where it plays a structural role. The remaining 1% is present in body tissues and fluids where it is essential for cell metabolism, muscle contraction and nerve impulse transmission. The main function of calcium is structural. This is finely controlled by hormones. Calcium also plays a role in cell biology. Calcium can bind to a wide range of proteins altering their biological activity. This is important in nerve impulse transmission and muscle contraction. This is thought to be due to animal protein increasing calcium loss from bones. Signs & Symptoms A low level of calcium in the blood and tissues can cause hypocalcemia. Excess calcium in the blood can cause nausea, vomiting and calcium deposition in the heart and kidneys. This usually results from excessive doses of vitamin D and can be fatal in infants. Breastfeeding women need an extra 550mg of calcium daily; a lactating woman can lose up to 300mg per day in breast milk. If post-menopausal women are not on ERT, their calcium intake should be 1500mg per day. Calcium absorption decreases with age so it is important that the elderly receive adequate dietary calcium. Additional Tips: Calcium should ideally be obtained through our diet. Dairy products are particularly high in calcium and a glass of milk contains about 300mg calcium.   However, if women are unwilling or unable to obtain enough calcium in their diet, they might consider calcium supplements.   There are a large variety of calcium supplements available, and if you are searching for one, you should keep in mind the following:   Look for supplements that contain calcium carbonate because they contain the highest percentage of calcium per tablet, are cheaper, and are more widely available.   Beware of supplements made of dolomite (limestone) or bone meal because they may be contaminated with lead.   There is no advantage in taking supplements that are chelated (bound) with protein.   The vitamin D in some supplements is usually not necessary because we normally get enough vitamin D from sunlight, fortified milk and eggs.   Try to keep total calcium consumption under 2000mg per day. At higher amounts, there is an increased risk of developing kidney stones.   To increase the absorption of calcium take smaller amounts more often, such as at meal-times, ratheer than taking one big dose.   Beware that calcium supplements can decrease the amount of iron you absorb. Complications Vitamin D is needed for absorption of dietary calcium and so calcium deficiency may be linked to rickets in children. In adults, calcium deficiency may lead to osteomalacia (softening of the bones). This involves loss of calcium from the bones and reduced bone density. This causes bones to be brittle and liable to fracture. Bone loss occurs with age in all individuals.
Calcium Requirement is benefited or hindered by:
	Increased Fruit/Vegetable Consumption