Calcium deficiency in women, men and children: signs, how to replenish

How often, when we feel unwell, we look for reasons where there are none. We try to blame our problems on polluted environment, bad weather, careless and conflicting employees, etc., etc. The condition of our hair, nails, teeth has worsened - dirty air and radiation are to blame, problems with sleep and irritability have appeared - stressful situations provoked by heartless people are to blame, joint pain and high blood pressure have tormented us - this is all due to the weather and hard physical labor. And we do not even think that the reason for our condition may be purely internal and consist of a deficiency of vitamins and important microelements, for example, a lack of calcium in the body.

Why do we need calcium?

It is no secret that our body includes most of the minerals from the Mendeleev table, a detailed acquaintance with which occurs in school years. One of such minerals necessary for humans is calcium (the 20th element of the table with the designation Ca).

In terms of its content in the body and the invaluable role it plays in human life, the mineral occupies an honorable fifth place in the list of microelements contained in our body. Whether it is a lot or a little, but 2% of the human body weight is calcium. And this is about 1-2 kilograms in terms of the weight of an adult.

In fact, 99% of calcium in the body is our bones. And about 1% of the total amount of the microelement in the human body circulates through the circulatory system, which delivers this microelement to various organs and systems of the body. After all, it is not only bone tissue that needs calcium.

Let's start with the fact that cell membranes contain such universal components for transporting nutrients into the cell as calcium channels. Thus, thanks to calcium, the nutrition of cells is carried out, the mechanisms of their aging and death are regulated.

First of all, calcium is necessary for bone and neuromuscular tissue. It is the basis of bones and teeth, is part of nails and hair, due to which all these components are distinguished by sufficient strength. Beautiful shiny hair, healthy strong teeth, strong smooth nails - aren't these indicators of health and beauty? It is not for nothing that this microelement received the title of "mineral of beauty". And there is no need to even argue about the need to maintain the mineral composition of the skeleton, because our ability to stand, walk, lift weights, etc. depends on it.

Calcium is involved in regulating the contractile function of human muscles, including the heart muscle. It is a conductor of nerve impulses, simultaneously nourishing the tissues of the nervous system.

Calcium in the blood maintains normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels, regulates the secretory function of various glands that produce specific hormones and blood clotting, controls enzymatic activity and DNA synthesis at different stages of this process. It is thanks to calcium that the constancy of the internal environment of the body (homeostasis) is maintained.

It is not difficult to imagine how dangerous a lack of calcium in the body can be for a person if virtually all of his or her performance depends on this mineral.

Causes calcium deficiency

So, calcium deficiency is observed if a person regularly does not receive the required amount of this important microelement. But there are situations when people of the same age (for example, a husband and wife or twin children) eat the same food, receive the same amount of calcium with it, but completely different levels of this mineral are found in their bodies. Let's figure out what can affect the calcium content in the human body.

Among the factors that cause calcium deficiency in the body, the following should be highlighted:

• Improper nutrition with a predominance of genetically modified components of dishes and synthetic substitutes for natural products, which do not carry any nutritional value, but can negatively affect metabolic processes in the body.
• Strict diets for body shaping, which can not only limit the intake of calcium into the body, but also contribute to the leaching of the already existing mineral from the bones.
• Some therapeutic diets with limited consumption of dairy products, meat, eggs, chocolate, i.e. products with a high calcium content.
• Lack of information about calcium content in food products and the body's needs for this microelement, which would make it possible to adjust your diet. Ignorance of this information leads to the fact that many people, even eating natural products, cannot cover the daily need for calcium.
• Lack of information about the conditions under which calcium is absorbed in the body to a greater extent. This capricious element of the periodic table is not always easily absorbed in the intestines and absorbed by cells. And some foods (for example, coffee and alcohol) and drugs (the popular acetylsalicylic acid, which can be found in many drugs, tranquilizers, narcotics) can even hinder the absorption of calcium.
• Lack of vitamin D in the body, which promotes more complete absorption of Ca. The causes of calcium deficiency due to vitamin D deficiency in the body can be: insufficient dose of sunlight with increased sensitivity to it or constant stay indoors, fasting, consumption of purely plant foods (vegetarianism).
• Excessive consumption of cigarettes and strong coffee, as a result of which calcium is poorly absorbed, and its insoluble compounds accumulate in the body, forming kidney stones.
• Insufficient mineralization of drinking water.
• Lactose intolerance, due to which a person cannot consume dairy and other products containing lactose. But dairy products are actually the main source of calcium from childhood.
• Estrogen production disorder.
• The presence in the body of a large number of microelements that stimulate the excretion of Ca from the body. Such microelements include metals (lead, iron, cobalt, zinc), as well as phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and sodium.
• Taking certain medications that can bind and remove calcium not only from bones but also from the body as a whole. Such medications include hormonal and anticonvulsant drugs, laxatives and diuretics, tranquilizers, antacids and gastric juice secretion regulators (reduce absorption by alkalizing the stomach contents), antibiotics (tetracycline, which is therefore not recommended for treating children).

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Risk factors

Risk factors for the development of hypocalcemia may include periods of pregnancy and lactation, when the mother's body is forced to give part of the calcium to the child in her womb or breastfed, as well as certain diseases with metabolic disorders.

As for diseases that reduce the level of calcium in the body, here the first place is taken by pathologies of the digestive system, one of the causes of which is again an unbalanced diet. The worst situation is with a violation of Ca absorption in the intestine, associated with various pathologies. This can be dysbacteriosis or fungal infection (candidiasis), food allergy or chronic enterocolitis and some other diseases.

Hypocalcemia can sometimes be caused by: pancreatitis, kidney and thyroid diseases (for example, hypoparathyroidism), and hematopoiesis disorders.

A sedentary lifestyle (slows down calcium metabolism), frequent stress, regular consumption of drinks like Pepsi-Cola (especially in childhood), and the transfer of infants to artificial feeding (the absorption of calcium from breast milk is twice as high as from formula) can also contribute to the development of hypocalcemia. Thermal processing of foods also changes the calcium in their composition, which is why it is absorbed worse.

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Pathogenesis

It turns out that not a single organ or system of the human body functions without calcium. Moreover, the need for calcium persists at all stages of a person's life: from the moment of conception until death.

A child begins to receive calcium from the mother's body even before birth. The body of a newborn baby already contains about 30 g of calcium. The human body gradually grows and develops, which means that the need for calcium remains for a long time.

It is important to understand that once calcium enters the body, it does not remain there forever. It is constantly used to carry out various processes of human life. Part of it is washed out of the body under the influence of certain factors, while more than 50% of calcium coming from outside is not absorbed by the body at all.

All this suggests that calcium reserves must be constantly replenished, according to the needs of the body, which undergo certain changes at different age periods.

The pathogenesis of calcium deficiency in the body, which in medicine is called hypocalcemia, is based on the violation of the norms of microelement consumption, due to which the body does not receive enough building material for the skeletal system and teeth, and other systems begin to experience malfunctions. So, let's talk about the daily calcium intake for people of different ages.

For normal growth and development of a baby, his body must receive 400 mg of Ca daily. For children from 6 months to a year, the need for calcium increases by another 200 mg and is 600 mg.

Children under 10 years of age should receive about 800 mg of calcium daily, because during this period the child's skeleton is actively growing. The norm for teenagers and adults ranges from 800 mg to 1 g. In old age, the need for calcium increases even more and reaches 1200 mg per day.

An increased need for calcium is experienced by the elderly, young people engaged in heavy physical labor, athletes and those who lead an active lifestyle, women during pregnancy and lactation.

The need for calcium depends on the processes occurring in the body at a particular period of a person's life. If a person constantly does not receive the daily norm of the microelement corresponding to his age and type of activity, a calcium deficiency in the body is detected, which manifests itself in the form of a certain symptom complex indicating various disorders in the functioning of the body.

First of all, the skeletal system suffers, of course, because it contains the lion's share of calcium. Since the distribution of calcium in the body is regulated by the parathyroid glands (small round formations around the "thyroid"), they, with the help of the parathyroid hormone synthesized by them, redistribute the mineral, taking calcium from the bones for the needs of other organs and systems in order to maintain homeostasis. Calcium in the required amount is removed from the bones into the blood and distributed throughout the body.

In the absence of sufficient calcium intake, the bone, having lost some of its “building material”, becomes more fragile and porous, and its strength decreases.

For the purpose of self-preservation, the body cannot take all the calcium from the bones. This means that this process will not last forever, and at some point, not only the bone system, but also many other human systems will begin to feel the lack of calcium, which will negatively affect the body's well-being and capabilities.

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Symptoms calcium deficiency

The symptoms of calcium deficiency in the body can be very diverse and resemble the manifestations of various pathologies and human conditions. Not all symptoms can be immediately associated with this pathology, but there are some, when they appear, you should immediately think about normalizing your diet and taking additional doses of calcium in the form of medications. However, before this, you still need to visit a doctor who will confirm the diagnosis, give recommendations on nutrition and prescribe doses of medications.

So, the first obvious signs and alarming symptoms of calcium deficiency in the body can be considered:

• Deterioration of hair condition and premature hair loss. Hair becomes dull and brittle, tends to split and become greasy (or dry) due to metabolic disorders that cause disruptions in the sebaceous and sweat glands.
• Dental problems. This includes loss of sensitivity of tooth enamel, premature decay of teeth, frequent recurrence of caries, and inflammatory processes in the gum area.
• Increased fragility and delamination of the nail plate.
• Sickly appearance.
• Convulsive syndrome.
• Development of osteoporosis in adolescence and young adulthood.
• Increased incidence of trauma with bone fractures.

But this condition also has other manifestations that are difficult to call specific, and therefore they are often attributed to overwork or diseases such as arthritis, vitamin deficiency, hypertension, etc., but not hypocalcemia. Nevertheless, the following symptoms may indicate a lack of calcium in the human body:

• Decreased performance due to rapid fatigue and constant weakness.
• Sleep disturbances manifested by difficulties falling asleep and waking up, even against a background of general calm.
• Manifestations of emotional lability (mood swings, outbursts of irritability and anger, acute inadequate reaction to criticism).
• High susceptibility to stress, which was not observed before.
• Difficulty with concentration and memory.
• Problems with muscles and joints. Unexplained pain in the joints of the arms and legs, muscle pain (myalgia), increased incidence of cramps in the calf muscle, muscles of the hand and foot (especially when exposed to cold).
• A tendency to bleed due to decreased blood clotting due to a lack of calcium. It can manifest itself in the form of frequent nosebleeds, bleeding gums, heavy and prolonged menstruation. Sometimes bruises appear on the body that are not associated with trauma to the body.
• The appearance of intolerance reactions to antigens that have not previously caused such an immune response. In adults, this manifests itself as a common allergy, in children - as diathesis.
• General decrease in the body's defenses. Decreased immunity entails more frequent cases of colds and infectious diseases, which occur with complications or become chronic. Frequent exacerbations of chronic infections are also noted.

Symptoms such as premature graying of hair and increased sweating may also indicate a calcium deficiency in the body.

Sometimes the body itself tells us what it lacks. Children are more sensitive to such signals and less constrained by conventions, so they happily lick the walls and chew chalk at any convenient opportunity. Such behavior, as well as insufficient growth of the child (relative to the norm for a certain age and taking into account heredity), becomes a clear sign that the baby's body lacks calcium.

Symptoms of calcium deficiency in the body in women

Household problems, caring for her husband and children take up a lot of a woman’s time, and she doesn’t even think about the fact that irritability, fatigue, deterioration of health and appearance are the cause of a pathological condition of the body, expressed in a lack of calcium.

And in vain, because frequent mood swings, constant weakness and fatigue, deterioration of hair and nails, dry and pale skin with decreased elasticity, recurrent caries, and decreased immunity may well be symptoms of developing hypokalemia. And if you add to them bones aching in the weather, muscle pain and cramps, increased bleeding during menstruation (due to decreased clotting), bleeding gums, bone fractures, the appearance of allergies, the development of heart pathologies (arrhythmia, hypertension, etc.), kidneys and thyroid gland, then a serious lack of calcium in the body is obvious.

The causes of hypocalcemia may be different, we have already mentioned them above. But a purely female reason for the lack of Ca in the body is considered to be an unbalanced diet during pregnancy and lactation. Both during the time in the womb and during breastfeeding, the baby receives calcium for its growth and development from the mother's body.

After the birth of a child, the mother's body continues to care for its offspring, producing milk, which is the main and only source of calcium for a breastfed baby. It turns out that the mother, both before and after childbirth, must receive an amount of calcium that will meet the needs of both her body and the baby's body. If this does not happen, both the mother and the child suffer. It is not without reason that the daily calcium intake for pregnant women and nursing mothers is increased and is within 1200-1500 mg.

By the way, women who lead an active lifestyle, i.e. regularly perform physical exercises that speed up calcium metabolism, should also increase their calcium intake.

Another delicate reason is the desire to stay slim and attractive to men by any means. Hence the fashion for strict diets that allow you to quickly remove extra pounds from the body. But ladies often do not think that along with these pounds, far from extra calcium may also go away.

A decrease in calcium levels is observed in women both in the premenstrual period and during menstruation. Such changes are associated with hormonal imbalance during this period, because the female hormone estrogen is actively involved in calcium metabolism and promotes its excretion from the body. For the same reason, osteoporosis is often observed during menopause. The disease is accompanied by increased bone fragility and skin aging. But if during menstruation, Ca deficiency is a temporary phenomenon, then during menopause a woman can experience it constantly.

By the way, many symptoms of menopause are associated with a lack of calcium in the woman's body. These include hot flashes with pressure surges, fever and palpitations, hyperhidrosis (especially at night), a violation of psycho-emotional balance, weakness of the bladder muscles, and even a decrease in libido.

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Symptoms and causes of calcium deficiency in the body in men

Although men are not bothered by such things as pregnancy, lactation, menstruation and decreased estrogen levels during menopause, they have almost as many causes of hypokalemia as women. They are largely associated with bad habits, such as smoking and alcohol abuse, which prevent calcium absorption in the intestines. In addition, adolescent boys are more prone to risky "games" with drugs.

A common cause of hypocalcemia and osteoporosis in men is also heavy physical labor against the background of insufficient calcium intake into the body.

You shouldn't think that osteoporosis is a disease of women in the climacteric period. Although men suffer from this pathology somewhat less often than women, they are characterized by earlier development of the disease. This is especially true for men who are professional athletes. Active sports and heavy physical exertion contribute to the accelerated removal of Ca from the body, which means the need for it increases and is equal to the norm for pregnant women (1100-1200 mg per day). By the way, this amount of calcium is contained in 1 liter of milk, but it should be taken into account that its digestibility in this case is only about 30%.

A lack of potassium and calcium in the body often becomes the reason why a young and generally healthy woman cannot get pregnant. And the risk of developing cervical erosion in such women is much higher.

The symptoms of calcium deficiency in men were listed above. These include decreased performance, irascibility, deterioration of the skin, teeth and nails, early baldness, development of cardiovascular and nervous system pathologies, etc.

Lack of calcium in the child's body

Calcium deficiency in children can be detected at any age. If the expectant mother did not receive enough of this important microelement during pregnancy, which is a building material for life developing in the womb, the Ca deficiency will certainly affect the condition and development of the child. The same can be said about the lactation period, while the child is not receiving complementary foods.

Such babies, suffering from a lack of Ca, have a reduced immunity, which is why they often have red rashes on their cheeks, indicating a tendency to allergies (diathesis). Children start walking later due to weak legs, their grasping reflex is slightly weakened.

If the child's body continues to fail to receive the required amount of calcium, growth retardation may be observed. Disruption of skeletal formation at an early age leads to the development of pathologies such as rickets, scoliosis, etc.

Calcium deficiency in a child's body has other manifestations. Both adults and children or teenagers with this problem are characterized by increased excitability, they often develop emotional lability associated with disorders of the central nervous system.

Such children may have poor sleep, complain of pain in their legs, and later experience certain learning difficulties due to lack of concentration and poor memory.

In adolescence, complaints of crunching bones and joints when moving arms and legs, pain in the spine may appear. Posture disorders are noted.

The leaching of calcium from bones in late childhood and adolescence is largely facilitated by a passion for fast food and sweet carbonated drinks like Pepsi-Cola. And refusing to consume healthy foods containing calcium, such as milk, cottage cheese, cheese, parsley, sesame, etc., only exacerbates the problem.

Complications and consequences

Calcium is not only a building material for teeth and bones, but also a functional component of many processes occurring in the human body. This means that a lack of such an important microelement can have a strong impact on many human organs and systems.

A lack of calcium in a child's body can have a negative impact on his future, since there is a high probability that the spine, incorrectly formed in childhood, will remind of itself even in adulthood. And here, taking calcium supplements is unlikely to fix anything, because everything needs to be done on time.

Chronic calcium deficiency in both childhood and adulthood is fraught with the development of nervous diseases, and emotional lability will be their mildest manifestation. The consequences of hypocalcemia can be astheno-neurotic syndrome, the development of encephalopathy, cerebellar insufficiency, psychosis, polyneuropathies, senile dementia, etc.

Constant fluctuations in blood pressure will negatively affect the work of the cardiovascular system, which has to work beyond the norm. Eventually, the pressure will become consistently high, and we will have to talk about hypertension.

A long-term deficiency of Ca in a child is fraught with negative changes in the lens of the eye, which will subsequently result in the development of subcapsular cataracts. In addition, such children have an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis in adulthood.

Blood clotting disorders due to calcium deficiency can cause large amounts of blood loss during trauma, which in some cases can be fatal.

There is no need to even talk about such consequences as decreased immunity and the development of allergic and chronic infectious processes on this basis, premature loss of hair and teeth, increased bone fragility, loss of former attractiveness. Neither women nor men want this for themselves.

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Diagnostics calcium deficiency

Despite such a vivid clinical picture, only a specialist doctor can determine the cause of the symptoms and their relationship with calcium deficiency in the body. Since the symptoms of the condition are non-specific, it may be necessary to conduct a number of examinations before the cause of the ailment is established.

The emphasis is on studying the patient's anamnesis and complaints. Any suspicious symptoms are taken into account, because calcium deficiency itself can cause the development of various pathologies with their characteristic symptoms.

The current level of calcium in the body can be determined using laboratory tests. The tests are prescribed by a doctor in accordance with the clinical picture. A blood test is mandatory. The normal content of Ca in blood plasma is within 2.15-2.5 mmol per liter.

To check kidney function, a general urine test is prescribed.

Instrumental diagnostics are performed in relation to possible pathologies (heart disease, nervous system, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract). Blood pressure and heart rate are measured. If there are noticeable deviations from the norm, indicating failures in the cardiovascular system, the doctor may prescribe an ECG.

Among other things, examinations such as X-ray and ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and pelvic organs, EEG (study of nerve impulse conduction), etc. may be prescribed.

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Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnosis is carried out with diseases that have similar symptoms to calcium deficiency in the body.

Treatment calcium deficiency

Treatment of this condition depends on the degree of neglect of the process. While the symptoms are not clearly expressed, it makes sense to adjust the diet, because calcium is not such a rare microelement and is contained in many foods. In addition, there are many vitamin and mineral complexes that contain calcium in sufficient quantities and will help to replenish the deficiency of not only calcium, but also other important substances.

On pharmacy shelves you can now find many specialized calcium preparations containing vitamin D3 _, which helps this capricious mineral to be better absorbed.

Let's consider several such drugs.

We will not focus our attention on budget single-component preparations in the form of calcium gluconate or carbonate, because their digestibility leaves much to be desired. They are more suitable as preventive means against calcium deficiency in the body.

But the popular drug "Calcium D3 Nycomed" is a medicine of a different kind, which in addition to calcium carbonate also contains vitamin D ₃ (cholecalciferol) to improve its absorption. Taking this drug is much more pleasant than pure calcium, because the tablets "Calcium D3 Nycomed" have an appetizing orange (lemon) or refreshing mint flavor.

The drug can be taken 1 or 2 times a day. The daily dosage for adults is 2 tablets. For children aged 5-12, the doctor may prescribe the drug in the amount of 1 or 2 tablets. Children aged 3-5 are given ½ or 1 tablet per day.

The tablets are intended for chewing. They can be taken both before and during meals. The course of treatment for calcium deficiency is usually 4-6 weeks.

The analogues of the above-described drug are considered to be “Complivit calcium D3” and “Vitrum calcium with vitamin D3”.

Of particular interest are combination drugs, since calcium deficiency in the body is often accompanied by a deficiency of other useful substances (magnesium, potassium, zinc, etc.). Drugs of this kind are considered to be "Calcemin" and "Calcemin Advance".

The drugs "Calcemin" and "Calcemin Advance" are prescribed in accordance with the patient's calcium needs. The second is an enhanced version of the drug, which is prescribed if problems with bones begin, while the first drug is considered a preventive measure against demineralization of the body.

"Calcemin Advance" is interesting because it contains not only calcium (in the form of citrate and carbonate) and vitamin D3 _, but also several other useful microelements: magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, boron. The addition of calcium citrate makes the drug effective even with low acidity of gastric juice. In addition, this component prevents stone formation in the urinary system.

"Calcemin Advance" is prescribed to children over 12 years of age and adults in a single dosage - 1-2 tablets per day with the possibility of increasing the daily dose to 3 tablets. It is recommended to take the drug during meals.

Calcium preparations are not prescribed in the following cases: with excess calcium and vitamin D ₃ in the body, hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, pathologies that can cause the development of hypercalcemia, such as sarcoidosis, hyperthyroidism, cancerous tumors. Taking the drug in case of kidney failure, nephrolithiasis, hypercalciuria can lead to serious consequences. Preparations containing sugars are not used to treat patients with glucose and fructose metabolism disorders.

Taking calcium supplements may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• digestive disorders with nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea,
• allergic reactions in the form of skin rash, itching and redness of the skin, rarely – anaphylactic shock.

Long-term use of large doses of calcium-containing drugs can provoke the appearance of calcium in the urine, and the formation of urinary stones with its participation.

Acute hypocalcemia is considered a life-threatening condition for the patient, so its treatment is carried out in a hospital setting. In any case, calcium supplementation should be carried out in parallel with monitoring its content in the blood and urine.

Homeopathy

If in traditional medicine it is customary to turn to calcium preparations mainly only when symptoms of deficiency of this mineral are evident, then in homeopathy the approach to prescribing such drugs is completely different. Calcium preparations are prescribed mainly in childhood and adolescence, when the need for calcium, necessary for skeletal growth, formation of the immune and nervous systems, accumulation of muscle mass and implementation of many physiologically conditioned processes in the body, is especially great.

For small children who are partial to tooth powder, chalk and whitewash, but do not tolerate milk and dairy products well, the drug Calcium carbonicum is mainly prescribed. Moreover, this homeopathic remedy is used for most diseases that develop in childhood. These include diseases of the skeletal system, and pathologies of the respiratory system, nervous system and circulatory system, metabolism. Calcium carbonicum is used for migraines and epilepsy.

At an older age, this drug is prescribed to phlegmatic children with light, delicate skin, sensitive to the effects of cold, which is why their feet are constantly cold. Such children do not like meat and milk.

Thin children with elongated facial features and increased excitability, not so sensitive to cold, but often suffering from diseases of the skeletal system are recommended to take Calcium phosphoricum. These children are very fond of meat.

Mildly aggressive children with dental and bone structure disorders are prescribed the homeopathic remedy Calcium fluoricum.

Calcium sulfuricum is prescribed to children suffering from purulent diseases (for example, follicular tonsillitis), and its analogue Hepar sulfuris is prescribed to strong, athletically built young patients with cold character traits and epileptoid temperamental tendencies.

Calcium is all around us

Calcium deficiency in the body is a rather strange phenomenon, given that calcium in sufficient quantities can be found in many food products that are familiar to us from birth. Take the same milk, which is the most important source of calcium and vitamins for a child, starting from infancy.

And who doesn't know about eggshells, which are almost 90% calcium? Eggshells have been used for a long time to treat calcium deficiency. However, many scientists consider this source of an important microelement to be very dubious. The whole problem is that calcium from eggshells is absorbed very poorly.

It was suggested to solve this problem with the help of lemon, since the acidic environment should promote the absorption of calcium. The thoroughly washed eggshells had to be dried, having previously cleaned the inner film, and ground into powder, after which ½ teaspoon of powder mixed with lemon juice (2-3 drops) should be taken daily. Calcium in this form is recommended for 2 months, repeating the course 2 times a year.

But milk and eggshells are far from the only sources of calcium in nature. If the reader is interested in the question of what else can replenish the lack of calcium in the body, it is worth paying attention to those products that are quite often present on our table. These are any fermented milk products (and especially cottage cheese), seafood, vegetable oils, oatmeal, green leafy vegetables (parsley, dill, etc.). By the way, fish oil, as a source of vitamin D, is useful not only for children, but also for adults, since it helps to absorb calcium entering the body from other foods.

The leaders in calcium content are considered to be hard and processed cheeses made from natural milk, meat and liver of sea fish (especially cod). Sufficient amounts of calcium are also found in legumes (beans, peas, soybeans) and various types of nuts, which are considered more affordable products that can diversify the diet of both a child and an adult.

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Prevention

When consuming calcium-rich foods, it is important to remember that the absorption of the mineral in this case remains quite low (30-50%). There are two options left: find additional sources of calcium in the form of medicinal and vitamin-mineral complexes or consume more foods containing natural calcium, taking all measures to prevent its leaching from the bones and, if possible, improving its absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.

For example, the combined use of calcium and fatty foods reduces the absorption of the mineral in the digestive tract. And excessive passion for coffee-containing and carbonated drinks provokes the removal of calcium from the body. Bad habits (in particular, smoking) also negatively affect the maintenance of calcium balance in the body, which means you will have to choose: either health or pleasure.

The same can be said about strict diets that are unable to provide adequate nutrition, as a result of which the body will experience a deficiency of one or another important vitamin or microelement.

If a lack of calcium in the body can be caused by a violation of its absorption in the intestines, then it makes sense to correct the problem as soon as possible by contacting a doctor when the first signs of pathology appear.

The health of the baby's bone, nervous, muscular and other systems should be taken care of by its mother, who during pregnancy and lactation should receive a sufficient amount of calcium in order to share it with her offspring for the health of both.

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Forecast

Calcium deficiency in the body is a rather serious problem, most often reminding itself in childhood. And the prognosis for its solution with age and the presence of gastrointestinal diseases that disrupt the absorption of nutrients in the intestines, as well as metabolic pathologies, becomes less and less favorable.

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