Calcium - Benefits to Aging Baby Boomers

Calcium is one of the primary minerals needed for maintaining maximum body health. It is also the most abundant mineral in the body and is stored primarily in the bones and teeth. It is literally the structure support mineral of the body and might I say, especially for the baby boomers.

The body is dependent on this mineral for bone health and of course prevention of bone disease, proper functioning of muscles and nerves, secretion of certain hormones and enzymes and our fight against some cancers. Blood clotting is even accomplished by its mediation of some of the clotting agents.

The bones of the body are continuously going through a cycling of breakdown and rebuilding. The older people get, the process of bone rebuilding is not as fast in most cases as is the breakdown process. This results in bone loss and a possible weakening of the bones called osteoporosis.

Another bone disease called Paget's disease is the result of excessive breakdown and deformation of bone. The result is a weakening of the bones that may result in deformities and fractures, bone pain and arthritis.

Other bone diseases that may affect baby boomers are osteopenia, precursor to osteoporosis, which involves low bone density and osteomalacia, a softening of the bones caused by a deficiency of or metabolism problems with vitamin D. Vitamin D is required for optimal absorption.

The parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamin D are responsible for maintaining calcium concentrations in the blood. The blood levels should be within a narrow range and may be tested for conditions relating not only to the bones but to the heart, kidneys, nerves and teeth. This test only relates to how much calcium is circulating in the blood.

The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University presents the following:

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminD/dendocrine.html

Vitamin D Helps to Maintain Calcium Levels

"The parathyroid glands sense the serum calcium level, and secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH) if it becomes too low, for example, when dietary calcium intake is inadequate. PTH stimulates the activity of the 1-hydroxylase enzyme in the kidney, resulting in increased production of calcitriol, the biologically active form of vitamin D3. Increased calcitriol production restores normal serum calcium levels in three different ways: 1) by activating the vitamin D-dependent transport system in the small intestine, increasing the absorption of dietary calcium; 2) by increasing the mobilization of calcium from bone into the circulation; and 3) by increasing the reabsorption of calcium by the kidneys. PTH is also required to increase calcium mobilization from bone and calcium reabsorption by the kidneys. However, PTH is not required for the effect of calcitriol on the intestinal absorption of calcium."

The levels of calcium in the body must be maintained so that different body processes will continue to function properly. These processes would include the constriction and relaxation of the blood vessels, sending messages through the nervous system, muscle contraction and the secretion of hormones and enzymes such as the previously mentioned PTH.

Constriction and relaxation of the blood vessels is accomplished in part by special channels.

They are pore-like protein that nestles in the cell membrane and controls the flow of calcium into the cells and regulates the relaxation of coronary arteries.

Too much of the hormone PTH causes calcium to be taken from the bones causing possible osteoporosis. Too little PTH causes too much calcitriol (vitamin D) in the blood stream and can cause arteriosclerosis, bone-deformation, muscle cramps and fibromyalgia.

Estrogen is another related hormone that protects the bones against excessive bone turnover by decreasing deportation of calcium from the bones. Post menopause women (mostly babyboomers?) are most at risk but secondly applies to women in general. Insulin is another important calcium regulated and activated hormone that helps in the bodies regulation of glucose.

The Linus Pauling Institute further states 'High sodium intake results in increased loss of calcium in the urine, possibly due to competition between sodium and calcium for reabsorption in the kidney or by an effect of sodium on parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion. Each 2.3-gram increment of sodium (6 grams of salt; NaCl salt) excreted by the kidney has been found to draw about 24-40 milligrams (mg) of calcium into the urine. Because urinary losses account for about half of the difference in calcium retention among individuals, dietary sodium has a large potential to influence bone loss. In adult women, each extra gram of sodium consumed per day is projected to produce an additional rate of bone loss of 1% per year if all of the calcium loss comes from the skeleton.'

Exercise also plays a role in the prevention of bone loss and bone diseases. High impact exercise and resistance exercise has the most benefit with low impact exercise having some benefit.

Other areas of interest include studies that show calcium plays a strong role in preventing intestinal cancer and a reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertension patients. One study ( Giovannucci E, Rimm EB, Wolk A, et al. Calcium and fructose intake in relation to risk of prostate cancer. Cancer Res. 1998;58(3):442-447. (PubMed)) found that men whose intake was 2,000 mg/day or more had a risk of developing advanced prostate cancer that was three times higher than men whose intake was less than 500 mg/day.

The recommended intake for adults 51 years (baby boomers) and above is 1000 - 1200 mg/day. Foods in the dairy products line such as yogurt, milk and cheese are the best sources for your daily intake. However, there are approximately 30 to 50 million Americans who are lactose intolerant, the inability to metabolize lactose, a sugar found in milk and other dairy products.

There are alternative sources that include broccoli, Chinese cabbage, kale, mustard greens, dandelion greens, turnip greens and beans. Even some fruits such as figs, papaya and raisins are good sources of the mineral. There is a caveat to some foods such as beans, spinach, rhubarb and sweet potatoes.

These foods contain a compound known as oxalate, a reducing agent. It is a potent inhibitor of calcium absorption and very well could cause a decreased supply in the body. H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors may also decrease absorption.

One other fact worthy of mentioning is that certain medications such as tetracycline, bisphosphonates, quinolone antibiotics and levothyroxine have a decreased absorption when taken with or within two hours of eating calcium rich foods or supplements. Multivitamin supplements that contain a combination of the mineral and vitamin D will help ensure maximum absorption. The maximum absorption will in turn help to minimize bone loss for this baby boomer generation.

Specific to the Baby Boomers

Healthy bone production for baby boomers.

Bone Diseases

Osteomalacia, a softening of the bones, may be prevented because of proper calcium maintenance.
Osteopenia, precursor to osteoporosis, which involves low bone density.
Osteoporosis, where the bone mineral density is reduced.
Paget's disease excessive breakdown and deformation of bone.

Hormone and enzyme maintenance. Hormones such as PTH, helps maintain concentrations of the mineral in the blood, estrogen and insulin.

Body processes. Processes such as blood vessel function, nervous system action, and muscle contraction.

Intestinal cancer prevention

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure reduction in hypertension patients.

Cautions

High intake of calcium over 2,000 mg/day or more had a risk of developing advanced prostate cancer.
High intake can cause kidney stones.
High intake may interfere with the absorption of several types of medicine.
H2 blockers and proton pump may decrease its absorption.
Some foods contain a potent inhibitor of calcium absorption.

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