Calcium is an essential mineral that supports the proper function of numerous enzymes in your body and helps you build strong bones. Calcium may also play an important role in weight loss. Although you can get calcium from eating dairy products and other foods in your diet, a calcium supplement is beneficial for some people. Before you begin taking extra calcium, talk with your doctor to discuss the correct dosage and potential dangers.
Function
In addition to building strong bones, calcium helps support the health of your heart, nerves and other major body systems, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Calcium also helps regulate blood-clotting actions. Calcium's role in weight loss is somewhat unclear, although incorporating low-fat dairy into your diet can help support weight loss, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Calcium supplementation can also help prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women who are trying to lose weight.
Effects
In addition to supporting weight loss, calcium supplements are most commonly used for treating calcium deficiency and related medical conditions like rickets and osteoporosis, notes the University of Maryland Health System. If you have or are at risk of having osteoporosis, taking extra calcium can help prevent bone loss. Also, people who have lactose intolerance or a malabsorption condition like celiac disease have a higher risk of calcium deficiency and may benefit from taking a supplement, notes the University of Michigan Health System.
Other Uses
Calcium supplements might have the potential to help treat preeclampsia, high cholesterol, premenstrual syndrome, high blood pressure, dysmenorrhea, migraines and attention deficit disorder, as well as prevent colon cancer and colon polyps, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Calcium may also have some benefits for treating high triglycerides, amenorrhea, depression, periodontal disease, multiple sclerosis, kidney stones and insulin resistance syndrome or Syndrome X, notes the University of Michigan Health System. In addition, you might take calcium supplements to help treat hypoparathyroidism and prevent strokes, states the University of Maryland Medical Center. No widely accepted scientific research supports the use of calcium supplements for any of these purposes, however.
Amounts
Adults who are 19 to 50 years old require about 1,000 mg of calcium each day, while adults who are 51 and older need 1,200 mg, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Therapeutic doses of calcium, including those for weight loss, generally fall in line with the daily recommended allowances of the mineral and don't exceed them. Commonly, a daily supplement providing about 800 to 1,000 mg of calcium is recommended, notes the University of Michigan Health System. Ask your physician about the dosage that's right for you before taking a calcium supplement.
Warning
Don't take calcium supplements for weight loss if you have prostate cancer, kidney stones, hyperparathyroidism or kidney disease, warns the University of Michigan Health System. Also beware of taking more than the daily recommended intake of calcium, because large doses of the mineral can cause potentially dangerous side effects, cautions the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Certain medications can interact negatively with calcium supplements as well. Talk with your doctor before taking calcium supplements if you take a quinolone, gentamicin or tetracycline antibiotic, estrogen, the osteoporosis drug alendronate, an aluminum-containing antacid, a beta-blocker or calcium-channel blocker for high blood pressure, a diuretic or digoxin, says the University of Maryland Medical Center.
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