Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body. It is important to ensure that our body absorb and utilize the calcium that we take in. Calcium is required for vascular contraction and vasodilation, muscle function, nerve transmission, intracellular signaling and hormonal secretion, though less than 1% of total body calcium is needed to support these critical metabolic functions. Serum calcium is very tightly regulated and does not fluctuate with changes in dietary intakes.
The remaining 99% of the body's calcium supply is stored in the bones and teeth where it supports their structure and function. Bone itself undergoes continuous remodeling, with constant resorption and deposition of calcium into new bone. The balance between bone resorption and deposition changes with age. Bone formation exceeds resorption in periods of growth in children and adolescents, whereas in early and middle adulthood both processes are relatively equal. In aging adults, particularly among postmenopausal women, bone breakdown exceeds formation, resulting in bone loss that increases the risk of osteoporosis over time.
The body's use of calcium is complex. It is affected by many hormones and factors other than how much calcium a person eats or takes in. There are many ways to treat bone problems and calcium imbalance in the body, depending on their cause.
The best source of calcium is a balanced diet, which helps to avoid bone problems and decreases the risk of some types of cancer. Foods and beverages high in calcium include milk and other dairy products (low-fat products are healthier), leafy green vegetables such as broccoli and greens, nuts, seeds, beans, tofu prepared with calcium, cheese, dried figs, kelp, oysters, and canned fish that can be eaten with the bones still in it, such as sardines and salmon.
There are 3 main forms of calcium in the market. The calcium carbonate, calcium gluconate and calcium aspartate.
Calcium Aspartate is a bio-available soluble complex of Calcium l-Aspartic acid. A food fortified with minerals, makes sense if the nutrient is metabolizable. It is not only Calcium, but also particularly, the anion fraction (aspartate) of the ingested calcium source, which determines the bioavailability of the product.
The Effects Of Calcium On Health
Scientists are studying calcium to understand how it affects health. Here are several examples of what this research has shown
- Bone health and osteoporosis
- Cardiovascular Disease
- High blood pressure
- Cancer
Bones need plenty of calcium and vitamin D throughout childhood and adolescence to reach their peak strength and calcium content by about age 30. After that, bones slowly lose calcium, but people can help reduce these losses by getting recommended amounts of calcium throughout adulthood and by having a healthy, active lifestyle that includes weight-bearing physical activity (such as walking and running).
Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones in older adults (especially women) in which the bones become porous, fragile, and more prone to fracture. Osteoporosis is a serious public health problem for more than 10 million adults over the age of 50 in the United States. Adequate calcium and vitamin D intakes as well as regular exercise are essential to keep bones healthy throughout life.
Whether calcium affects the risk of cardiovascular disease is not clear. Some studies show that getting enough calcium might protect people from heart disease and stroke. But other studies show that some people who consume high amounts of calcium, particularly from supplements, might have an increased risk of heart disease. More research is needed in this area.
Calcium has been proposed to help reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk by decreasing intestinal absorption of lipids, increasing lipid excretion, lowering cholesterol levels in the blood, and promoting calcium influx into cells.
Some studies have found that getting recommended intakes of calcium can reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure (hypertension). One large study in particular found that eating a diet high in fat-free and low-fat dairy products, vegetables and fruits lowered blood pressure.
Studies of calcium supplements with vitamin D have shown some promise in cancer risk reduction.
Available Formulation
- Calcium Aspartate 400mg in vegetable capsule (60cap/bottle)
