You've got more calcium in your body than any other mineral, according to the Linus Pauling Institute, but that doesn't mean you don't need to replenish your supply daily. Your body is constantly using calcium to create and remodel bones and teeth. Calcium also helps maintain the function of your muscles, nerves, hormones and enzymes. Calcium lactate is one of the forms of calcium that is available as a supplement and is used to fortify foods.
Risk of Deficiency
According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, some individuals are at greater risk of calcium deficiency than others. Postmenopausal women absorb calcium less readily and experience bone loss. Lactose intolerant individuals may not consume enough calcium-rich foods to meet their daily requirements. Vegetarians who completely abstain from animal products, including dairy products, may also have difficulty obtaining enough calcium.
Adequate Intake for Infants
Your need for calcium is different at different stages of life. From birth to 12 months of age, a recommended dietary intake for calcium has not yet been established. Instead, the Institute of Medicine uses the average calcium intake of healthy individuals to establish an adequate intake, or AI, which is then used as a dosage level. Infants from birth to 6 months of age have an AI for calcium of 200 g per day. From 6 to 12 months, the AI for calcium is 260 mg.
Recommended Daily Intake for Children
The recommended daily intake of calcium for children ages 1 to 3 is 700 mg per day, for ages 4 to 8, it's 1,000 mg daily, and from ages 9 to 18, it's 1,300 mg per day.
Dosages for Adults
Adults between the ages of 19 and 50 need 1,000 mg daily. For men, this dosage remains the same through age 70. For women, changes associated with menopause necessitate a larger dosage or 1,200 mg per day after age 50.
Dosages During Pregnancy and Lactation
Between the ages of 14 and 18, a pregnant woman requires 1,300 mg of calcium daily, and a lactating woman requires 1,300 mg. At age 19 and older, a pregnant or lactating woman needs 1,000 mg of calcium daily.
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