Calcium is the most prevalent mineral in the human body. About 99 percent of your body's calcium exists in bones and teeth and serves to support their strength and function, while the remaining 1 percent assists with blood health and nerve impulses. The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine provides calcium recommendations for males across all age groups. You can find calcium in numerous foods as well as in supplements.
Infants
The IOM provides a recommended dietary allowance for a nutrient when there is sufficient scientific evidence to support an appropriate dosage through clinical trials. Because it is difficult to perform clinical research on infants, the IOM includes adequate intake values, or an amount believed to meet the needs of the majority of infants. The AI for calcium for male infants ages 0 to 6 months is 20 mg per day, while infants ages 6 to 12 months need 260 mg of calcium a day.
Children
As young males age, bones increase in size and density and calcium needs increase. The RDA for male children ages 1 to 3 is 700 mg a day, while male children ages 4 to 8 require 1,000 mg a day, according to the IOM. Inadequate calcium intake in children has been a widely-documented problem in the United States, and individual issues such as lactose intolerance, milk allergies, broken bones and picky eating habits may hinder proper calcium intake in young males. Early childhood years are crucial for developing healthy eating habits, and adequate calcium intake during this period can prevent bone fractures and osteoporosis in later years, according to CalciumInfo.com.
Teenagers
As growth continues until the later teenage years, males' calcium needs continue to increase. Teenage males between the ages of 9 and 18 require 1,300 mg of calcium each day, reports the IOM. The best sources of calcium for teenagers are foods, says CalciumInfo.com. In some cases, however, diet isn't enough and male teens may begin to take calcium supplements. Parents should monitor the calcium intake of their children and may seek out supplements when teens are highly active and subject to bone injury, are obese and on a calorie-restricted diet, have an eating disorder, or consume a large amount of soda and little or no milk.
Adults
While osteoporosis is generally considered to be primarily a female problem associated with deceased hormone production after menopause, about 20 percent of all Americans with this condition are male, according to CalciumInfo.com. Calcium deficiency may also contribute to hypertension, tooth loss and colon cancer. Adult men between the ages of 19 and 70 should consume 1,000 mg of calcium a day, and then 1,200 mg daily after the age of 70.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, and the Mayo Clinic advises men consume plenty of this nutrient to balance calcium intake. You can find vitamin D in egg yolks, fish, fortified foods or sunlight exposure. Adult men between the ages of 19 and 70 require 600 mg of vitamin D each day, and 800 mg a day after the age of 70.
Member Comments