Calcium Requirements Increase With Age For Women

Calcium, a silvery metallic element and one of theimportant to calculate the amount of calcium
alkaline earth metals is the most abundant metallicsupplementation you need. The first thing is to
element in the human body. It is the fifth mostestimate your current dietary intake of calcium
abundant element in the Earth's crust and is essentialoutside of any supplementation that you may take.
for physiological functions. Calcium is a mineral that isMost women eat 2 to 3 meals a day so you can
essential for bones, to increase bone mineral densityassume you get 250 mg calcium per day not counting
and improves the effectiveness of osteoporosisdairy foods or calcium fortified foods. A lot of
medications. Calcium has also been shown towomen take an additional 300 mg calcium by one
decrease bone loss in postmenopausal women.serving of dairy products. If you drink one glass of
According to a Woman's Health Initiative trial,milk then your total intake is calculated to be 550 mg
incidences of hip fracture decrease in older womencalcium per day. Therefore you need an additional
who supplement calcium in their diet.650-950 mg per day.
As we age our calcium intake naturally increases dueSince we have determined that our intake of calcium
to the reduction of intestinal calcium adsorption afteris lacking, the next question you may have is what
menopause for women. Post menopausal womenform of calcium should I be taking in a supplement to
also have reduced acid production in the stomach andmeet my needs? There are a few different forms of
lower intake of vitamin D therefore calcium citratecalcium found in your local health food store such as
supplement should be taken increasing calcium levels(i) calcium carbonate and (ii) calcium citrate. Some
to offset the lower intestinal adsorption and lesswomen who take calcium carbonate suffer from
efficient conversion of calcium by the kidneys. Theconstipation, nausea and indigestion. Calcium
national academies of sciences guidelines for calciumcarbonate is best taken with food because of
intake for women suggest 1,000 mg per day forimproved adsorption. Calcium citrate on the other
women between the ages 31-50 years old; womenhand is best taken on an empty stomach for
older than 50 should take upwards of 1,200 mgimproved adsorption. Calcium citrate is less likely to
calcium per day. The problem however is, mostcause constipation, nausea and indigestion therefore it
postmenopausal women in today's society eitheris the better choice for older women with lower
have poor diets, and or are vegans. The elderly maystomach acid and lower intake of vitamin D.
not have adequate calcium intake because of theirFurthermore, some research has shown that
dietary lack as well. In the USA, postmenopausalcombining Vitamin D with calcium can improve
women have dietary intakes of around 600 mg peradsorption.
day which is below the recommended amount.Calcium supplementation is extremely safe, even in
Calcium in the blood has roles in muscle contraction,quantities up to 1,500 mg per day from both diet and
nerve-impulse transmission, blood clotting, milksupplements there is no risk of increased kidney
production (women), hormone secretion, and enzymestones. However, calcium intake greater than 2,500
function. If there is a calcium deficiency in the diet,mg per day from diet and supplementation should be
calcium is pulled from the bones and teeth so otheravoided unless recommended by your health care
body functions can continue. Therefore, it isprofessional.