Dietary calcium is calcium that is found in food. Supplemental calcium is that which is consumed as a tablet or other form of nutritional supplement. There is no clear association between dietary calcium and calcium deposits. It is possible that supplemental calcium may increase your risk of calcium oxalate deposits within your kidneys, otherwise known as kidney stones, or nephrocalcinosis, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements.
Common Calcium Deposit
Calcium deposits can form in body tissues such as muscle, cartilage or tendons. It is common for calcium deposits to form in the cartilage in your joints, according to Arthritis Research UK. This condition is called chondrocalcinosis. When calcium accumulates within a tendon, it's called calcific tendonitis. Calcium deposits within a joint capsule are referred to as calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis, or "pseudogout." Breast calcifications are those that form in breast tissue.
Causes of Calcium Deposits
There are a myriad of causes of calcium deposits, but dietary calcium intake is not one of them. Breast calcifications can be caused by injury, cysts or even cancer. Pseudogout can arise as a result of acromegaly, endocrine disorders or hemochromatosis, according to MedlinePlus. Genetic factors and osteoarthritis can also influence the formation of calcium deposits.
Calcium and Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are one disorder that may be linked to an excessive intake of supplemental calcium. The Mayo Clinic states that high levels of calcium in your urine can cause calcium crystals to form in your kidneys that can grow into kidney stones. Kidney stones can result in painful blockages that cause kidney damage. The findings relating kidney stones to supplemental calcium are not conclusive, however. The Office of Dietary Supplements explains that high oxalate intake from food combined with low fluid intake is a more likely culprit in causing kidney stones.
Considerations
Calcium is an essential nutrient, and the most abundant mineral in your body. You need calcium to maintain strong bones, support muscle function, conduct nerve signals and secrete hormones, among other functions. Though as of 2011 there have been no reports of calcium deposits associated with dietary calcium intake, Dr. Munro Peacock of Indiana University Medical School states that further research is necessary to explore whether calcium supplementation increases the risk of calcium deposits in soft tissues of the body.
