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Are Calcium Supplements Harmful or Helpful?

Aug 2, 2011 | By Sandi Busch
Are Calcium Supplements Harmful or Helpful?
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Although it's best to get the calcium you need through dietary sources, taking calcium supplements can help fill the gap if you're not getting enough. These supplements may be harmful or helpful, depending on any medical conditions you might have. Always talk to your health-care provider if you have concerns about your need for calcium supplements.

Role of Calcium

In addition to being essential for bones and teeth, calcium has other critical roles in the body. It's needed for the blood vessels to constrict and relax, for muscles to contract and for communication between nerve cells. It must also be present for chemical processes involved in blood clotting. Your body maintains a strict amount of calcium in the blood at all times, and relies on you obtaining enough in your diet.

Deficiency

If you're not getting enough calcium, supplements can help. Calcium deficiencies are not usually caused by lack of calcium in your diet, according to the Linus Pauling Institute, but are more likely the result of medical conditions such as chronic kidney failure, vitamin D deficiency or magnesium deficiency. You will also need to treat any underlying health problems, so consult your health-care provider before taking supplements.

Osteoporosis

Throughout your life, old bone is resorbed and new bone is built to replace the old. As you get older, bone loss may proceed more quickly than bone formation, and over time this causes bones to become thin and weak, a condition called osteoporosis. Treatment of osteoporosis consists of getting enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet, and making sure you get proper exercise. Calcium supplements may be helpful for people with osteoporosis.

Blood Pressure

Calcium supplementation of 500 to 2,000 mg a day may help lower high blood pressure, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. However, diet and exercise are equally important parts of a lifelong treatment plan.

Hypercalcemia

When you have too much calcium in your blood, the condition is called hypercalcemia. If you have hypercalcemia, taking calcium supplements could be very harmful. Even though hypercalcemia usually stems from a medical condition, excessive use of calcium or vitamin D supplements can also lead to this condition. High levels of calcium in your blood can result in kidney stones, kidney failure, nervous system problems or an abnormal heartbeat.

Kidney Stones

If you've had kidney stones, taking calcium supplements may increase your risk of developing them in the future. Increasing the amount of calcium you consume also increases calcium in the urine, which may lead to kidney stones.

Hypoparathyroidism

The parathyroid glands regulate the amount of calcium and vitamin D in your body. If you have hypoparathyroidism, these glands are underactive. You will need to follow a high-calcium, low-phosphorus diet and take calcium supplements.

References

Article reviewed by Paula Martinac Last updated on: Aug 2, 2011

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