Eating foods that have a lot of salt (sodium) causes your body to lose calcium and can lead to bone loss. Try to limit the amount of processed foods, canned foods and salt added to the foods you eat each day. To learn if a food is high in sodium, look at the Nutrition Facts label.
Many factors, including age, disease states, and medications, can affect calcium absorption. Carbohydrates may enhance calcium absorption while coffee and cigarette smoke may impede it. The best way to get calcium is through food. Many foods are fortified with calcium.
In hypocalcemia, the calcium level in blood is too low. A low calcium level may result from a problem with the parathyroid glands, as well as from diet, kidney disorders, or certain drugs.
Calcium-depleting culprits
Caffeine and phosphorus from sodas also reduces calcium absorption. Alcohol can interfere with pancreas and liver function; these organs need to function well for your body to activate and absorb calcium. Excessively salty foods also leach calcium from the body.
Some studies link caffeine consumption with negative effects on calcium metabolism, possibly related to caffeine increasing loss of calcium in the urine, and decreasing calcium absorption in the body. Over time, having less calcium available could cause bone loss.
Good sources of calcium include dairy products, almonds, broccoli, kale, canned salmon with bones, sardines and soy products, such as tofu. If you find it difficult to get enough calcium from your diet, ask your doctor about supplements. Pay attention to vitamin D. Your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium.
Aging and Bone Loss
As you age, your body may reabsorb calcium and phosphate from your bones instead of keeping these minerals in your bones. This makes your bones weaker. When this process reaches a certain stage, it is called osteoporosis.
Hypocalcemia is associated with several types of cancer, but is more frequent in hematological, colorectal, lung, and thyroid cancers. A low calcium level measured at some point in a patient with cancer seems to not be significantly associated with lower survival.
Normally, the parathyroid glands release a hormone that increases blood calcium levels when they are low. Magnesium is required for the production and release of parathyroid hormone, so when magnesium is too low, insufficient parathyroid hormone is produced and blood calcium levels are also reduced (hypocalcemia).
The elderly are at risk for multiple reasons including low calcium intake over time, medication interactions that may decrease dietary calcium absorption, and the underlying chronic disease osteoporosis which changes bone formation and strength [1,3,7,8].
Muscle cramps, spasms, and fatigue are common. Other typical symptoms include numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, as well as irregular heart rhythm. In the long run, calcium deficiency can weaken your bones and teeth.
Results from a total calcium test that are lower than normal may be a sign of: Low blood protein levels, which may be caused by liver disease or malnutrition. Underactive parathyroid glands (hypoparathyroidism), a condition in which your parathyroid glands produce too little parathyroid hormone.
A few weeks of adequate calcium intake should be enough to boost your levels, but again, another blood test is the only way to know for sure.
The calcium level in blood can be moderately low without causing any symptoms. If levels of calcium are low for long periods, people may develop dry scaly skin, brittle nails, and coarse hair. Muscle cramps involving the back and legs are common.
Because calcium helps with muscle contraction, low levels of the mineral means you might experience more muscle cramps than usual, Kang says, specifically in your back and legs. Other symptoms include brittle fingernails, bone-related injuries, irregular heartbeat and tingling in arms and legs.
Kiwi: Kiwi fruits come with more than 34mg of calcium every 100 gm. Mulberries: These, on the other hand, have rich calcium sources, as 100 gm of it contains 39mg of calcium. Blackberries: Other fruits high in calcium include blackberries. These offer about 29mg per 100 gm.
The condition may be transient, reversing with addressing the underlying cause expeditiously, or chronic and even lifelong, when due to a genetic disorder or the result of irreversible damage to the parathyroid glands after surgery or secondary to autoimmune destruction.
Just 30 minutes of exercise each day can help strengthen bones and prevent osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercises, such as yoga, tai chi, and even walking, help the body resist gravity and stimulate bone cells to grow. Strength-training builds muscles which also increases bone strength.
Beverage options that are better choices include calcium and vitamin D-fortified juices, plain or chocolate milk, or flavored waters.
Studies have also demonstrated that there is a correlation between salt intake and calcium excretion in young and adolescent girls. It has been suggested that this may result in a reduced peak bone mass, which would increase the risk of osteoporosis later in life.