Arthritis And Calcium Intake

Calcium, the most prevalent mineral in your body, plays an essential role in keeping your bones and teeth strong, and in certain cases your body's supply of this essential mineral may become jeopardized if you have arthritis. Minimize your chances of suffering the side effects of arthritis-linked calcium loss by learning the facts about how this potentially debilitating health condition can affect your calcium stores.

The Facts

Arthritis is a chronic health condition characterized by the presence of inflamed or damaged joint tissue. The most common types of arthritis include osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis typically affects older individuals and most commonly produces ongoing inflammation of the knees, hips and fingers; rheumatoid arthritis may develop at any age -- even in children -- and often results in pain in the hands and feet, as well as exhaustion, morning stiffness and fever. Another form of arthritis called gout develops when crystals accumulate and product pain in your body's joints, particularly in the big toes.

Effects

Certain medications used for the treatment of arthritis may reduce the amount of calcium available in your body, says Neal Birnbaum, M.D., coauthor of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Arthritis." These medications include corticosteroids, which combat inflammation and suppress your body's immune system. Because arthritis is a chronic condition, most individuals suffering from this health problem need to take medication indefinitely to minimize joint damage and control the potentially painful symptoms. Over time, those who take calcium-depleting medications may suffer calcium deficiency and bone loss if they fail to maintain adequate daily intake of this essential mineral.

Considerations

Increasing your intake of calcium once you discover you have arthritis won't affect your ability to absorb this essential mineral unless you also obtain adequate levels of vitamin D. Insufficient vitamin D intake prevents your body from forming calcitriol, a hormone that promotes the absorption of calcium in your digestive system. As of June 2011, recommended dietary intake of vitamin D varies between 600 and 800 IU for adults, according to guidelines from the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin D is naturally present in only a few foods including fish, such as salmon, tuna and mackerel, as well as fortified foods, such as milk and some kinds of orange juice.

Prevention

Talk to your doctor about your calcium intake if you experience symptoms of arthritis or have recently been diagnosed with arthritis. In most cases, daily intake of 1,000 to 1,200 mg of calcium taken in two doses daily should be enough to keep your body supplied with plenty of calcium; however, you may need to increase your calcium intake if you're an older female or have osteoporosis. Dietary sources of calcium include dairy products, green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli and kale, as well as almonds and sunflower seeds.