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• Calcium Q & A • calcium supplements • choices in calcium • calcium-rich foods •
Calcium intake is the major therapy for the prevention and treatment of
osteoporosis -- and at times other supplementation is used in
conjunction with calcium. Someone with kidney or liver damage may need a
special form of vitamin D, available by prescription which is needed for
the absorption of calcium from the small intestine. Postmenopausal women
may need estrogen therapy which has been shown to be useful for
prevention of osteoporosis and is frequently advocated for its
treatment.
Many types of calcium supplements are available without a doctor's
prescription. In order to determine if a supplement is needed, a
comparison should be made of recommended dietary allowance (RDA) values
and current dietary calcium. The RDA of calcium for adults over the age
of 19 is 800 mg per day. For teenagers pregnant women and for those
breast feeding the RDA is 1,200 mg per day. For teenagers who are
pregnant, the RDA is 1,600 mg. For infants to children up to age of 10,
the RDA is 400-800 mg. The National Institute of Health (NIH) has made
separate recommendations of 1,000 mg of calcium per day for
premenopausal women and postmenopausal women taking estrogen. The NIH
recommends 1,500 mg of calcium per day for postmenopausal women not
taking estrogen.
The main difference between the calcium supplements are availability
with or without vitamin D, the chemical compound the calcium is paired
with, the amount of elemental calcium and their dosage form. The amount
of actual or elemental calcium differs based on the from of the calcium.
For example, calcium carbonate contains 40% elemental calcium while
calcium gluconate contains 9% calcium That means that 1,000 mg of
calcium carbonate contains 400 mg of calcium, yet 1,000 mg of calcium
gluconate would contain just 90 mg of calcium. It is very important to
read the label to be certain of how much elemental calcium is in the
product. Different dosage forms are also available there are pills,
chewable tablets, suspension, solutions and powders.
The daily amount of calcium supplement needed will depend on the
individual and whether the supplement is being used as its name implies
-- as a supplement, or for treatment of severe calcium depletion. Those
with calcium depletion should be monitored by a physician. Their
requirements may far exceed the normal supplement dose of 1,000 mg of
calcium per day. It's important not to self-medicate with high doses of
calcium without a doctor's approval because calcium can be toxic. Large
amounts consumed as supplements and or antacids may lead to kidney
stones. If an antacid containing calcium is taken on a daily basis, read
the label to see how much calcium is consumed per day.
If kidney damage is present or there is a family history of kidney
stones, an aluminum-containing antacid should be used and a doctor
consulted before starting any calcium therapy.
A description of any type of medication wouldn't be complete without
mentioning side effects. Common side effects associated with calcium are
constipation and gas. If large amounts of calcium are required,
splitting the daily dose into three or four separate doses not only
improves the efficiency of calcium absorption but also diminishes side
effects.
Calcium in the form of a supplement, antacid, or food can hinder
absorption of certain antibiotics like tetracycline and cipro, making
the antibiotics less effective. The best way to avoid this interaction
is to separate the calcium from the antibiotic dose by at least two
hours. If you are uncertain about the need for a calcium supplement, you
should talk to your doctor or dietitian. Calcium supplements should be
reserved for those with low calcium intake or those who are at risk of
developing osteoporosis. If a supplement is needed, remember to read
labels and ask a pharmacist for help in deciding what kind of supplement
would be most appropriate.
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