THE CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTATION DEBATE (FINAL PART)
Several factors must be considered when prescribing Calcium supplements.
1) Insufficient Calcium intake can cause bone loss which can lead to osteoporosis. If the need arises for calcium supplementation, it is advisable to:
- regularly monitor calcium levels
- select a good product with optimal absorption rates, there are many over-the-counter forms of calcium supplementation available and several have poor bioavailability
2) One cannot generalise with administration of any medicines and supplements as the effect varies from individual to individual. For example, supplements containing 800mg of calcium have been shown to have an effect on post and pre menopausal women with high cholesterol levels; post-menopausal women exerted a negative affect whereas pre-menopausal abstained from this affect. The post-menopausal women experienced an increase in cholesterol as well as thickening of the ceratoid artery when given a calcium supplement. Such changes can be strong contributing factors to the onset of cardiovascular diseases. When compared to the placebo group, this negative effect was not experienced.
3) It is advisable to take Calcium along with Magnesium for various reasons, and a key consideration is that Magnesium is a natural calcium channel blocker.
4) If Magnesium and possibly Vitamin K2 is not taken along with high doses of calcium supplements this can possibly cause the development of calcium deposition in the intimal and/or medial layers of arteries.
The best method for daily intake of calcium is through an adequate diet of products such as: dairy products, sardines, salmon bone broth, soy, tofu, nuts, seeds and dark leafy greens. If this is not possible, then seek the advice from an accredited healthcare practitioner.