Signs Of Calcium Deficiency

Calcium is vital in almost all body processes and is key to keeping healthy bones and teeth. This is the reason why it's important to meet the required recommended daily allowance of calcium. However, studies have found that only about 10% of the U.S. population are close to meeting daily calcium requirements.

The chemical combination of calcium pantothenate is necessary for proper cell metabolism and synthesis of certain enzymes such as carbohydrates, fatty acids, and protein to be able to release energy. Likewise, calcium is stored, not only in bones, but in many parts of the body like the nerves, muscles, and tissues. For calcium to be absorbed by and useful for the body, it needs to be complemented with vitamin D and magnesium, while sodium keeps it in soluble form. Calcium moreover, increases the body's resistance to stress, bacteria, parasites, viruses, and even cancer.

Signs of calcium deficiency
Major signs of calcium deficiency are skeletal abnormalities: osteopenia, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, and rickets. Osteopenia is the condition wherein there is less than normal amount of bone. If left untreated, it could result to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis (from the word porous) is the condition in which our bones lose its density, hence, becoming porous and brittle. Minor accidents like bumps and minor falls can cause bone fracture, or worse the bone may break under its own weight.

Osteomalacia, which is rickets in children, is a failure of the bones to retain minerals, one of the clear signs of calcium deficiency, resulting in a reduced amount of mineral content of the bone. In this condition, bones become soft, flexible, and easily bendable resulting to bowed legs, sunken chests (pectus excavatum), beaded ribs, protruding chests (pectus carnitum), large foreheads, and hyper extendable joints.

Signs of calcium deficiency can appear in other degenerative conditions. Ionic calcium aids in the reversal of symptoms of calcium oxalate crystals (commonly known as kidney stones), gallstones, and arthritis, as well as acidosis.

High occurrences of cavities and white spots on fingernails and toenails are likewise signs of calcium deficiency. Other signs of calcium deficiency include acne, arthritis, attention-deficit disorder (ADD), chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma, Bell's palsy, cataracts, muscle cramps, carpal tunnel syndrome, enlarged heart, fibromyalgia, gallstones, high cholesterol, and cancer.

Other signs of calcium deficiency include insomnia, tetany, premenstrual cramps, and hypertension. When calcium in the blood plunges, parathyroid hormones are released signaling the bones to release calcium to put the level back to normal but this must be replaced over time.