What is Calcium
What Forms Does It Come In
The Biology of Calcium
This document is supplied for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to recommend or prescribe any treatment for any condition or illness. Contact a doctor or medical professional who is trained in the use of natural nutritional supplements before adding any new protocol or when starting any health or exercise program.
Are all forms of calcium the same? Most of us are becoming increasingly aware of the need for calcium in our diets as a necessary factor for our health and longevity. When our health practitioners recommend that we go to the store and get some Tums or Oyster Shell tablets and take two daily, are they really aware of how very little of the calcium is bioavailable to the cells of our bodies? Are they educated in biochemical calcium absorption and do they know how much of the calcium we consume in these tablet forms is actually being absorbed and used by the body? In this article I will show you just a little about how our calcium is absorbed and how we can get the calcium essential for proper metabolism and good health. This information comes from biology.
The Most Misunderstood FACT
There is a great misunderstanding concerning this mineral and only very recently has the truth appeared. To start off, calcium is a metal, bright and shiny like all other metals. It is not the white powdery substance most people think it is. The white powdery substance people think is calcium is actually calcium carbonate, or another compound of calcium with calcium only making up much less than half of the total molecular weight of the substance. About 99% of our body's calcium is deposited in the bones and teeth. The remaining 1% is present in body fluids, approximately equally divided between diffusable calcium and non-diffusable calcium. The diffusable calcium is bound to blood proteins, chiefly to albumin, although a small amount is bound by the globulins in the blood.
We need and use more calcium than any other mineral in the body. In fact there are 179 different known uses for calcium in the human body. It controls muscle contraction and relaxation, is responsible for nerve impulse transmission and the transfer of information between our brain cells. It controls osmosis and diffusion through the cell membranes, and also the passing of information within the cell. It controls the rhythm of the heart, the formation of enzymes and hormones, and also the DNA formation in chromosomes. It is used in blood clotting, urine filtration, and it's also used in the formation and maintainance of the bones and teeth. And in addition, and perhaps most importantly, it is the main buffer used to neutralize acids and to maintain the proper pH throughout the body.
Ionic calcium (Ca++) is the only physiologically active form of this element. Bone, though considered primarily as the structural support for the soft tissues of the body, also serves as a storage deposit for ionic calcium. Its calcium is available to the body and is drawn upon to maintain normal blood calcium levels during periods of low calcium intake. The protein bound calcium of the blood probably serves as a secondary reservoir, becoming available locally only during excessive loss or use of ionic calcium. It is important to note that because ionic calcium is the only physiologically active form of this element, all sources of this mineral, whether through the diet or from the bones, must be broken down to its ionic form before it can be used by the body for any of the functions listed above.
Maintenance of a positive calcium balance by the body depends of dietary intake and the efficiency of absorption of the calcium ion from the intestinal tract. Calcium is one of the more difficult elements for the body to digest and absorb. Because calcium forms insoluble compounds with many of the anions present in food, efficient absorption of calcium is loaded with problems. In most instances the phosphate ion is the principal interfering anion. Of the Calcium phosphate complexes, only calcium dihydrogen phosphate is sufficiently soluble to maintain the necessary levels for efficient absorption of the ionic calcium. Unfortunately this salt is stable only in highly acid media, such as stomach acid. And in the alkaline area of the small intestine, the much less soluble mono-hydrogen phosphate of the highly insoluble tertiary phosphate is the stable form, and both of these forms cannot be fully absorbed by the body. In addition to this, once calcium has dissolved, its absorption into the body is totally dependent on the presence of vitamin D in the intestine. Vitamin D, unfortunately, is not present in most of our food, so our body is dependent on the action of sunlight on our skin to synthesis vitamin D. Without intestinal vitamin D being present, most of the ionized calcium will pass through the body unused.
Conditions in the stomach normally provide sufficient acid for the stable intake of the free calcium ion even in the presence of phosphate ions; but absorption cannot take place there. As the contents of the stomach (chyme) are discharged from the stomach and moves through the small intestine, it is neutralized by the alkaline bile. Calcium absorption takes place in the duodenum, but it is apparent that solubility considerations counteract to prevent this uptake, except during the relatively short period of time before the chyme is completely neutralized. Absorption in the remainder of the intestine is pretty much nonexistent, because the calcium by then has been precipitated from solution due to the alkalinity produced by the bile. It is evident that high amounts of phosphorous in the diet (high red meat consumption, carbonated drinks, etc.) are unfavorable to efficient calcium absorption. Because of the common ion effect, excess phosphate will depress solubility of the soluble calcium dihydrogen phosphate stable at the stomach's normally acid pH level. Therapy involving use of strong bases such as antacids and H-2 blockers like Zantac, Tagamet, Pepcid, etc., decreases the efficiency of calcium absorption because of their alkalizing effects of the pH of the stomach. Tums or calcium carbonate, and alkaline sources of calcium, neutralize stomach acid needed for calcium absorption. Also, a diet with excess zinc may interfere with calcium absorption. Faulty fat digestion due to high fat intake or an inadequate bile secretion also interferes with calcium absorption through the precipitation of insoluble calcium soaps. Even some foods such as rhubarb, Swiss chard, spinach, beet greens, cocoa, soybeans, cashews, and kale contain a high oxilate content, which acts as a calcium absorption blocker by binding with calcium, producing insoluble salts as calcium oxilate which can not be absorbed. So even with high intake of foods containing calcium there are many things that can interfere with its absorption leading to a deficiency of usable calcium.
The average American diet of meats, refined grains, and soft drinks (high in phosphorus) has been documented to contribute to increased bone loss in adults. It is important to remember that proper calcium absorption absolutely requires an adequate level of vitamin D, through diet or by supplement. This vitamin controls the absorption of calcium ions. So one can see that biochemical absorption of calcium is not an easy matter. The excretion of calcium is largely through the mucosa of the small intestines, and a comparatively small quantity (25-35%) is excreted in the urine as calcium phosphate. Since excretion is a normal continuous process, a negative calcium balance can result if dietary intake is too low.
The following chart shows the average amount of calcium needed for specific age groups. These amounts have been established by nutritionists at Purdue University in 1997 and supersede the amounts considered as the required amounts established in 1941. Higher amounts up to 2,000 mg daily are recommended for pregnant and breast feeding mothers, girls between 11-20 years of age, people who are under high physical of mental stress, and of course anyone who has osteoporosis. Also, people who have muscle spasms or cramps or bone fractures will need more calcium. Please note that the following chart calls for absorbed calcium not calcium intake.
AGE ABSORBED CALCIUM
Calcium may be purchased in different forms in the market place. But in order to really be able to evaluate the absorbable (or usable) calcium of each product we need to know (a) what the amount of available calcium is, and (b) what is the biochemical absorption percentage for the compound in ideal conditions. Below, is a brief summary which addresses how much calcium is actually available to our bodies from commonly available calcium products.
A.) Calcium Carbonate {CaCO3} is known as Caltrate, Oyster Shell calcium, Tums, or generic. Total molecular weight of this compound is 100.09 mg. Calcium weighs 40.09 mg. So Calcium carbonate is 40% calcium. Scientists tell us that only 10% of the calcium is absorbed from the carbonate. So for every 1,000 mg of calcium carbonate 40% of 400 mg is calcium. Of this 400 mg 10% is absorbed, or only 40 mg of usable calcium.
B.) Tribasic Calcium Phosphate {Ca3(PO4)2} is known as Posture. Total molecular weight of this compound is 310.18 mg therefore calcium phosphate is 39% calcium. Scientists tell us that only 10% of the calcium is absorbed from this phosphate. So for every 1,000 mg of calcium phosphate 39% or 390 mg is calcium. Of this 390 mg, 10% is absorbed, or only 39 mg of usable calcium.
C.) Calcium Lactate {(CH3CH[OH]COO)2Ca}is commonly found in dairy products. Total molecular weight of this compound is 218.22 mg, therefore calcium lactate is 37% calcium. Scientists tell us that only 33% of the calcium is absorbed from the lactate. So for every 1,000 mg of calcium lactate 37% or 370 mg is calcium. Of this 370 mg 33% is absorbed, or only 105 mg of usable calcium.
D.) Calcium Citrate {Ca3(C6H3O7)2}is known as Citrical®. Total molecular weight of this compound is 572.72 mg, therefore calcium citrate is 21% calcium.Scientists tell us that 50% of the calcium is absorbed from the citrate. So for every1,000 mg of calcium citrate 21% or 210 mg is calcium. Of this 210 mg 50% is absorbed, or only 105 mg of usable calcium.
E.) Ionic Calcium {Ca++} is available from Natural Biology. Total molecular weight of ionic calcium is 40.09 mg. So ionic calcium is 100% calcium. Scientists tell us that 98% of the ionic calcium is absorbed. So for every 1,000 mg of Coral Calcium, a unique organic calcium carbonate compound that dissipates calcium directly in its ionic form, 40% is ionic calcium or 400 mg of calcium. Of this 400 mg 98% is absorbed, or 392 mg of usable calcium. The following chart illustrates how much of these commonly available calcium products needs to be consumed each day, in addition to an average 500 mg dietary calcium intake, in order to obtain a minimum 800 mg of absorbable ionic Ca++, and their comparative costs.
Note: Calcium obtained from calcium lactate in dairy products was excluded in the above table due to confusion surrounding the food industries labeling of calcium lactate as pure calcium and because prices vary considerably because it comes from a food source with each food having varying amounts.
Calcium absorption needs an acid environment in the stomach for proper digestion and people over 60 years of age produce only approximately 25% of the stomach acid they produced when they were 20 years old. In addition, it is a known fact that as many as 40 percent of postmenopausal women lack sufficient stomach acid for proper calcium absorption and that's without the intake of large volumes of alkaline calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate. Ionic calcium, on the other hand, needs no stomach acid to be absorbed and assimilated. Large amounts of dairy products increase the amounts of fats, cholesterol, and artificial hormones fed to dairy cattle (to increase growth and milk production) taken into our bodies. So it is very obvious that only one of the five calcium choices listed above is really a viable option. A study of biology shows this to be true.The testimonies of those who use the Coral Calcium product validates the studies in the laboratory! Calcium deficiency, which is also known as hypocalcemia is responsible for approximately 150 different degenerative diseases and conditions, and also other problems that can be harmful or dangerous to the body. Look at this partial list and see if some of them are not familiar.
When you look at the above list, it is very interesting to note that kidney stones are included. Kidney stones are a buildup of calcium in the kidney which are very painful to pass and surgery is sometimes necessary to remove them. At one time doctors thought that the stones formed because of an over-abundance of calcium in the diet and instructed the patients to restrict their calcium intake. This has been shown, not only to be completely false, but actually the exact opposite is true. Kidney stones are caused by a lack of calcium in the diet. What happens is: for whatever reason, the body becomes acidic, and the body leaches calcium out of the bones to neutralize the acid, as I've already said, to keep the pH from dropping below the level that supports life. The problem is, the calcium from the bones is not very bioavailable and only a small percentage is actually used to correct the acid situation and the rest starts to accumulate in the kidney, or it may form bone spurs.
Scientific evidence has proven the stones are not formed from calcium in the diet by using radioactive markers on the dietary calcium. When the stones and spurs were later examined there was not one bit of radioactive calcium contained in them. Fully 100% of the kidney stones and bone spurs comes from calcium leached out of the bones in order to neutralize the acids in the body fluids. Some doctors still haven't received the new information and are telling their patients to restrict their calcium intake. That, of course, is going to make the problem worse and cause more stones and spurs to develop. And that will lead to the doctor's only solution at that point--surgery.
Other Trace Minerals
In addition to what is written earlier in this article about calcium absorption, it is known that calcium can not be absorbed and utilized in our bodies without certain trace minerals, including magnesium and boron and also many others, also being present. The full complement of these trace minerals is not found in most calcium supplementation tablets and are lacking to a great degree in the typical American diet. These trace minerals are important not only to facilitate the absorption of calcium (as in magnesium) but they are also needed by the body as well for the millions of biochemical reactions that are taking place in the body every day.
Are all forms of calcium the same? Most of us are becoming increasingly aware of the need for calcium in our diets as a necessary factor for our health and longevity. When our health practitioners recommend that we go to the store and get some Tums or Oyster Shell tablets and take two daily, are they really aware of how very little of the calcium is bioavailable to the cells of our bodies? Are they educated in biochemical calcium absorption and do they know how much of the calcium we consume in these tablet forms is actually being absorbed and used by the body? In this article I will show you just a little about how our calcium is absorbed and how we can get the calcium essential for proper metabolism and good health. This information comes from biology.
The Most Misunderstood FACT
There is a great misunderstanding concerning this mineral and only very recently has the truth appeared. To start off, calcium is a metal, bright and shiny like all other metals. It is not the white powdery substance most people think it is. The white powdery substance people think is calcium is actually calcium carbonate, or another compound of calcium with calcium only making up much less than half of the total molecular weight of the substance. About 99% of our body's calcium is deposited in the bones and teeth. The remaining 1% is present in body fluids, approximately equally divided between diffusable calcium and non-diffusable calcium. The diffusable calcium is bound to blood proteins, chiefly to albumin, although a small amount is bound by the globulins in the blood.
We need and use more calcium than any other mineral in the body. In fact there are 179 different known uses for calcium in the human body. It controls muscle contraction and relaxation, is responsible for nerve impulse transmission and the transfer of information between our brain cells. It controls osmosis and diffusion through the cell membranes, and also the passing of information within the cell. It controls the rhythm of the heart, the formation of enzymes and hormones, and also the DNA formation in chromosomes. It is used in blood clotting, urine filtration, and it's also used in the formation and maintainance of the bones and teeth. And in addition, and perhaps most importantly, it is the main buffer used to neutralize acids and to maintain the proper pH throughout the body.
Ionic calcium (Ca++) is the only physiologically active form of this element. Bone, though considered primarily as the structural support for the soft tissues of the body, also serves as a storage deposit for ionic calcium. Its calcium is available to the body and is drawn upon to maintain normal blood calcium levels during periods of low calcium intake. The protein bound calcium of the blood probably serves as a secondary reservoir, becoming available locally only during excessive loss or use of ionic calcium. It is important to note that because ionic calcium is the only physiologically active form of this element, all sources of this mineral, whether through the diet or from the bones, must be broken down to its ionic form before it can be used by the body for any of the functions listed above.
Maintenance of a positive calcium balance by the body depends of dietary intake and the efficiency of absorption of the calcium ion from the intestinal tract. Calcium is one of the more difficult elements for the body to digest and absorb. Because calcium forms insoluble compounds with many of the anions present in food, efficient absorption of calcium is loaded with problems. In most instances the phosphate ion is the principal interfering anion. Of the Calcium phosphate complexes, only calcium dihydrogen phosphate is sufficiently soluble to maintain the necessary levels for efficient absorption of the ionic calcium. Unfortunately this salt is stable only in highly acid media, such as stomach acid. And in the alkaline area of the small intestine, the much less soluble mono-hydrogen phosphate of the highly insoluble tertiary phosphate is the stable form, and both of these forms cannot be fully absorbed by the body. In addition to this, once calcium has dissolved, its absorption into the body is totally dependent on the presence of vitamin D in the intestine. Vitamin D, unfortunately, is not present in most of our food, so our body is dependent on the action of sunlight on our skin to synthesis vitamin D. Without intestinal vitamin D being present, most of the ionized calcium will pass through the body unused.
Conditions in the stomach normally provide sufficient acid for the stable intake of the free calcium ion even in the presence of phosphate ions; but absorption cannot take place there. As the contents of the stomach (chyme) are discharged from the stomach and moves through the small intestine, it is neutralized by the alkaline bile. Calcium absorption takes place in the duodenum, but it is apparent that solubility considerations counteract to prevent this uptake, except during the relatively short period of time before the chyme is completely neutralized. Absorption in the remainder of the intestine is pretty much nonexistent, because the calcium by then has been precipitated from solution due to the alkalinity produced by the bile. It is evident that high amounts of phosphorous in the diet (high red meat consumption, carbonated drinks, etc.) are unfavorable to efficient calcium absorption. Because of the common ion effect, excess phosphate will depress solubility of the soluble calcium dihydrogen phosphate stable at the stomach's normally acid pH level. Therapy involving use of strong bases such as antacids and H-2 blockers like Zantac, Tagamet, Pepcid, etc., decreases the efficiency of calcium absorption because of their alkalizing effects of the pH of the stomach. Tums or calcium carbonate, and alkaline sources of calcium, neutralize stomach acid needed for calcium absorption. Also, a diet with excess zinc may interfere with calcium absorption. Faulty fat digestion due to high fat intake or an inadequate bile secretion also interferes with calcium absorption through the precipitation of insoluble calcium soaps. Even some foods such as rhubarb, Swiss chard, spinach, beet greens, cocoa, soybeans, cashews, and kale contain a high oxilate content, which acts as a calcium absorption blocker by binding with calcium, producing insoluble salts as calcium oxilate which can not be absorbed. So even with high intake of foods containing calcium there are many things that can interfere with its absorption leading to a deficiency of usable calcium.
The average American diet of meats, refined grains, and soft drinks (high in phosphorus) has been documented to contribute to increased bone loss in adults. It is important to remember that proper calcium absorption absolutely requires an adequate level of vitamin D, through diet or by supplement. This vitamin controls the absorption of calcium ions. So one can see that biochemical absorption of calcium is not an easy matter. The excretion of calcium is largely through the mucosa of the small intestines, and a comparatively small quantity (25-35%) is excreted in the urine as calcium phosphate. Since excretion is a normal continuous process, a negative calcium balance can result if dietary intake is too low.
The following chart shows the average amount of calcium needed for specific age groups. These amounts have been established by nutritionists at Purdue University in 1997 and supersede the amounts considered as the required amounts established in 1941. Higher amounts up to 2,000 mg daily are recommended for pregnant and breast feeding mothers, girls between 11-20 years of age, people who are under high physical of mental stress, and of course anyone who has osteoporosis. Also, people who have muscle spasms or cramps or bone fractures will need more calcium. Please note that the following chart calls for absorbed calcium not calcium intake.
AGE ABSORBED CALCIUM
- 1-3 years 500 mg
- 4-8 years 800 mg
- 9-18 years 1,300 mg
- 19-50 years 1,000 mg
- 51+ years 1,200 mg
Calcium may be purchased in different forms in the market place. But in order to really be able to evaluate the absorbable (or usable) calcium of each product we need to know (a) what the amount of available calcium is, and (b) what is the biochemical absorption percentage for the compound in ideal conditions. Below, is a brief summary which addresses how much calcium is actually available to our bodies from commonly available calcium products.
A.) Calcium Carbonate {CaCO3} is known as Caltrate, Oyster Shell calcium, Tums, or generic. Total molecular weight of this compound is 100.09 mg. Calcium weighs 40.09 mg. So Calcium carbonate is 40% calcium. Scientists tell us that only 10% of the calcium is absorbed from the carbonate. So for every 1,000 mg of calcium carbonate 40% of 400 mg is calcium. Of this 400 mg 10% is absorbed, or only 40 mg of usable calcium.
B.) Tribasic Calcium Phosphate {Ca3(PO4)2} is known as Posture. Total molecular weight of this compound is 310.18 mg therefore calcium phosphate is 39% calcium. Scientists tell us that only 10% of the calcium is absorbed from this phosphate. So for every 1,000 mg of calcium phosphate 39% or 390 mg is calcium. Of this 390 mg, 10% is absorbed, or only 39 mg of usable calcium.
C.) Calcium Lactate {(CH3CH[OH]COO)2Ca}is commonly found in dairy products. Total molecular weight of this compound is 218.22 mg, therefore calcium lactate is 37% calcium. Scientists tell us that only 33% of the calcium is absorbed from the lactate. So for every 1,000 mg of calcium lactate 37% or 370 mg is calcium. Of this 370 mg 33% is absorbed, or only 105 mg of usable calcium.
D.) Calcium Citrate {Ca3(C6H3O7)2}is known as Citrical®. Total molecular weight of this compound is 572.72 mg, therefore calcium citrate is 21% calcium.Scientists tell us that 50% of the calcium is absorbed from the citrate. So for every1,000 mg of calcium citrate 21% or 210 mg is calcium. Of this 210 mg 50% is absorbed, or only 105 mg of usable calcium.
E.) Ionic Calcium {Ca++} is available from Natural Biology. Total molecular weight of ionic calcium is 40.09 mg. So ionic calcium is 100% calcium. Scientists tell us that 98% of the ionic calcium is absorbed. So for every 1,000 mg of Coral Calcium, a unique organic calcium carbonate compound that dissipates calcium directly in its ionic form, 40% is ionic calcium or 400 mg of calcium. Of this 400 mg 98% is absorbed, or 392 mg of usable calcium. The following chart illustrates how much of these commonly available calcium products needs to be consumed each day, in addition to an average 500 mg dietary calcium intake, in order to obtain a minimum 800 mg of absorbable ionic Ca++, and their comparative costs.
Note: Calcium obtained from calcium lactate in dairy products was excluded in the above table due to confusion surrounding the food industries labeling of calcium lactate as pure calcium and because prices vary considerably because it comes from a food source with each food having varying amounts.
Calcium absorption needs an acid environment in the stomach for proper digestion and people over 60 years of age produce only approximately 25% of the stomach acid they produced when they were 20 years old. In addition, it is a known fact that as many as 40 percent of postmenopausal women lack sufficient stomach acid for proper calcium absorption and that's without the intake of large volumes of alkaline calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate. Ionic calcium, on the other hand, needs no stomach acid to be absorbed and assimilated. Large amounts of dairy products increase the amounts of fats, cholesterol, and artificial hormones fed to dairy cattle (to increase growth and milk production) taken into our bodies. So it is very obvious that only one of the five calcium choices listed above is really a viable option. A study of biology shows this to be true.The testimonies of those who use the Coral Calcium product validates the studies in the laboratory! Calcium deficiency, which is also known as hypocalcemia is responsible for approximately 150 different degenerative diseases and conditions, and also other problems that can be harmful or dangerous to the body. Look at this partial list and see if some of them are not familiar.
- Gout
- Heart palpitation
- Muscle cramps
- Hypertension (High blood pressure)
- Eczema
- Loss of mental functions
- Increased cholesterol levels
- Indigestion
- Insomnia
- Rickets
- Headaches
- Kidney and gall stones
- Bone spurs
- Fibromyalgia
- Hiatal hernia
- Recessed gums
- Low back pain
- Asthma
- Allergies
- Colitis
- Arrhythmia
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Acid reflux
- And about 125 others
When you look at the above list, it is very interesting to note that kidney stones are included. Kidney stones are a buildup of calcium in the kidney which are very painful to pass and surgery is sometimes necessary to remove them. At one time doctors thought that the stones formed because of an over-abundance of calcium in the diet and instructed the patients to restrict their calcium intake. This has been shown, not only to be completely false, but actually the exact opposite is true. Kidney stones are caused by a lack of calcium in the diet. What happens is: for whatever reason, the body becomes acidic, and the body leaches calcium out of the bones to neutralize the acid, as I've already said, to keep the pH from dropping below the level that supports life. The problem is, the calcium from the bones is not very bioavailable and only a small percentage is actually used to correct the acid situation and the rest starts to accumulate in the kidney, or it may form bone spurs.
Scientific evidence has proven the stones are not formed from calcium in the diet by using radioactive markers on the dietary calcium. When the stones and spurs were later examined there was not one bit of radioactive calcium contained in them. Fully 100% of the kidney stones and bone spurs comes from calcium leached out of the bones in order to neutralize the acids in the body fluids. Some doctors still haven't received the new information and are telling their patients to restrict their calcium intake. That, of course, is going to make the problem worse and cause more stones and spurs to develop. And that will lead to the doctor's only solution at that point--surgery.
Other Trace Minerals
In addition to what is written earlier in this article about calcium absorption, it is known that calcium can not be absorbed and utilized in our bodies without certain trace minerals, including magnesium and boron and also many others, also being present. The full complement of these trace minerals is not found in most calcium supplementation tablets and are lacking to a great degree in the typical American diet. These trace minerals are important not only to facilitate the absorption of calcium (as in magnesium) but they are also needed by the body as well for the millions of biochemical reactions that are taking place in the body every day.
Natural Biology believes a good supplement begins with the careful selection of each micro-nutrient - and then is formulated into a "bio-balanced" formula to offer improved absorption and utilization. We call it the 100% Pure and Natural Advantage.
