Normal Calcium In The Body

Calcium is a micronutrient essential for basic body functions. More than 90 percent of your body's calcium is found in teeth and bones. A very small amount is found in blood, tissue and muscles. The Institute of Medicine recommends a daily dose of calcium of 1,000 mg for ages 19 to 50, 1,000 mg for men over 50, and 1,200 mg for women over 50. Consuming enough calcium and vitamin D along with physical activity will help prevent complications associated with inadequate calcium intake.

Blood Calcium Levels

A routine health exam can include a test that measures calcium circulating in the blood. Because calcium is constantly exchanged from bone to blood, a normal blood calcium level is also used to monitor bone health, according to Lab Tests Online. Normal blood calcium levels can range from 8.5 to 10.2 mg/dL, milligrams per deciliter of blood. The range varies depending on the laboratory completing the test. If your calcium level is found to be abnormal, other tests may be completed to identify the cause.

Bones

In a 2004 report, the US Surgeon General estimates that by 2020 half of all Americans over 50 will have weak bones as a result of inadequate intake of calcium and poor lifestyle choices. The bones serve as a reserve for calcium. When your calcium intake is too low, your body will pull calcium from the bones to compensate. This process is called resorption. When bone resorption exceeds the rate of new bone formation, bone density is affected and osteoporosis can develop.

Low Blood Calcium

Low blood calcium levels, or hypocalcemia, can be related to decreased dietary intake, parathyroid hormone imbalance, kidney failure, vitamin D deficiency or magnesium deficiency. Symptoms of severely low blood calcium levels may include mental changes, seizure, muscle irritability, decreased blood pressure or changes in the skin. Treatment includes taking supplemental calcium and vitamin D.

High Blood Calcium

Abnormally high calcium levels, or hypercalcemia, can result from over consumption of supplements, greater than 2,000 mg per day according to PubMed. Other causes of hypercalcemia include overactive parathyroid glands, excessive vitamin D intake, kidney failure, being confined to the bed for long periods of time, certain medications or some forms of cancer. Hypercalcemia affects less than 1 percent of the population and most often affects women over 50.