Calcium is an essential nutrient your body needs for normal development. Most of your body's stores of calcium are contained within your bones. When your body needs calcium, the mineral is taken away from your bones and sent into your bloodstream. Caffeine is a drug that has a potential effect on the function and storage of calcium.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a naturally chemical found in many plants. It is also manufactured and added to certain foods and beverages. Once caffeine is ingested, it quickly enters the blood and reaches the brain. The drug acts as a central nervous system as well as a diuretic, according to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health.
Caffeine and Calcium
Calcium use occasionally leads to a significant reduction in calcium levels, Kids Health reports. Either through its diuretic effect or through a direct action on calcium metabolism, large doses of caffeine detrimentally affect your body's normal calcium balance. An article in the 2002 edition of "Food and Chemical Toxicology," however, notes that taking in sufficient amounts of calcium prevents any complications associated with calcium loss due to high caffeine intake.
Osteoporosis
If you take in large amounts of caffeine without getting enough calcium, you increase your risk of developing osteoporosis, Teens Health warns. Osteoporosis is a bone disorder associated with weakened, structurally deformed bones. Most often osteoporosis is linked with insufficiency calcium levels within the blood. Caffeine causes osteoporosis by reducing overall calcium levels within your body. Therefore, if you are taking in a lot of caffeine, you must also ingest more calcium to counteract the calcium loss caused by caffeine.
Caffeine Intake
Three 8-oz. cups of coffee each day is considered a moderate amount of caffeine intake, MedlinePlus reports. Ten or more cups of coffee per day leads to excessive caffeine levels and often leads to complications such as dizziness, nausea and osteoporosis. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid caffeine intake. Furthermore, if you are suffering from heart disease or peptic ulcer disease, your doctor may recommend that your limit or totally avoid caffeine.
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