Hypocalcemia & Caffeine

When you're healthy, that morning cup of coffee is a pleasant ritual whose negative effects are nil to negligible. But when you're not healthy, all bets are off. If you're hypocalcemic, the suppressive effect caffeine has on your calcium absorption can make the difference between managing your condition or letting it mismanage you.

Importance of Calcium

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body. In addition to being a major building block in the structure of bones and teeth, it is required for muscle function, nerve transmission, intracellular signaling, vascular contraction, vasodilation and the secretion of hormones. Your bones constantly deposit calcium into the bloodstream for these purposes and reabsorb excess for later use.

Impact of Hypocalcemia

When you don't have enough calcium in your bloodstream, you risk developing a medical condition known as hypocalcemia. Nursing Central defines hypocalcemia as a calcium level below 8.5 mg/dL.

One effect of low calcium levels in the bloodstream is loss of calcium from the skeletal system as your body tries to get what it needs from its usual source. This can lead to the brittle bone condition of osteoporosis. When your body still can't get the calcium it needs, other metabolic functions suffer. Symptoms include cardiac dysrhythmias, capillary permeability, decreased blood coagulation and pathological bone fractures. In the severest cases, you can suffer spasms, seizures and respiratory arrest.

Early Detection

The earliest symptom of hypocalcemia is usually a condition known as neuromuscular irritability as dropping calcium levels cause muscles to twitch. You may also experience muscle cramps in legs and arms. If you have these symptoms, a blood test will determine whether you indeed have hypocalcemia.

Effects of Caffeine on Calcium Levels

Caffeine can have a negative impact on your calcium absorption levels. Additionally, caffeine can cause further calcium loss through increased urination, as well as calcium electrolyte imbalance through dehydration.

Most healthy individuals can counter the effect by increasing their calcium intake. In fact, according to a September 2002 article in the journal "Food and Chemical Toxicology," as little as 1 to 2 tbsp. of milk will offset the negative effect of caffeine on calcium absorption and bone density. However, if you have hypocalcemia, you're less able to afford losing calcium and impairing your ability to absorb more.

Further Considerations

Treating hypocalcemia starts with increasing your dietary calcium intake. It doesn't end there, however. Your doctor may also prescribe vitamin D supplements to further aid calcium absorption. Magnesium sulfate may also be required because magnesium deficiency and calcium deficiency go hand in hand. If you suffer from chronic hypocalcemia caused by hypoparathyroidism, you'll also need to avoid foods high in phosphate.