Education Journalist | Study Abroad Lead
Calcium is a chemical mineral present in the Earth’s crust and abundantly present in the human body. Calcium is found in various forms in nature and is highly consumed by human beings through food items and supplements. This mineral supports the formation and metabolism of bones in the body. Hence, a deficiency of calcium can cause many issues. In this article, we will discuss the various causes and symptoms of calcium deficiency.
| Table of Content |
Keyterms: Mineral, Earth’s crust, Metabolism, Bones, Calcium, Vitamin D, Muscles, Bones, Teeth, muscles, menopause
Read More: Deficiency symptoms
Calcium
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Calcium provides strength to bones and teeth. In growing children, calcium helps in the formation of bones; after the growth stops, calcium helps to maintain the strength of bones and reduces the calcium amount from the body. In females, calcium levels get reduced at the time of menopause. Calcium can be consumed through cheese, milk, yogurt, soy milk, baked beans, sprouts, oranges, etc. Along with bone formation, calcium helps regulates muscles contractions.
Calcium
In the cardiovascular system, calcium plays an important role in clotting. Calcium metabolism is highly regulated by Vitamin D since this vitamin helps in the absorption of calcium in the body. The interconnection of calcium and vitamin D depicts the usage and deficiencies of the mineral in the body.
Sources Of Calcium
[Click Here for Previous Year Questions]
The sources of calcium are:
- Food: Food is the main source of obtaining calcium in the body as this mineral is present in most dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cheese. Almost 72% of the calcium is present in dairy products, and the rest of the calcium is obtained from vegetables, meat, eggs, and for vegetarian people from spinach, seeds, milk products, and many more.
- Dietary Supplements: The most common form of calcium supplements are calcium carbonate and calcium citrate. Calcium supplements are also given to toddlers for better growth of teeth and bones.
Sources Of Calcium
Causes of Calcium Deficiency
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Calcium deficiencies in the body are quite normal as it solely depends on a healthy lifestyle and food habits. Hormonal disorders are a general cause of calcium deficiency. Various symptoms in the body can be recognized by time. A long-term calcium deficiency can lead to various conditions such as cataracts, dental changes, and osteoporosis.
- High alcohol consumption and chemotherapies in cancer patients usually result in calcium deficiency.
- Women after menopause can be calcium deficient as during this time estrogen levels in the body decrease in concentration and it controls the calcium absorption in the body.
- Vitamin D deficiency, low phosphate level, surgeries like removal of the stomach can also lead to low calcium levels.
- The decline in magnesium levels, kidney diseases, thyroid problems, excessive sweat problems can cause calcium deficiency.
- In case of extended calcium requirements like pregnancy, breastfeeding low levels of calcium are often observed.
- People who consume alcohol and caffeine on daily basis are also found calcium deficient.
Deficiencies Of Calcium
[Click Here for Previous Year Questions]
The deficiency of calcium can be considered a disease that will hamper the functioning of the human body due to the low amount of calcium present. If there is less amount of calcium in the blood vessels, the calcium will be removed from the bones. This is a serious matter of concern because if this happens for a longer period of time, it can result in decalcification of teeth and bones that can deform the bones. It can also result in colon cancer, hypertension, stones, diabetes, etc.
Symptoms
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Identifying calcium deficiency symptoms in the initials stages is rare, but it varies from person to person. Calcium increases rapidly from infants to children before hitting a spike in teenagers due to critical growth ages. For men, the appropriate calcium level is 1000mg to 1200mg between the age of 19 to 71, whereas it is the same for women aging 19 to 51. Some of the symptoms of calcium deficiency are:
- Muscle Problems: Cramps, muscle aches, spasms are the earliest sign of calcium deficiencies. Most people experience pain in their arms and inner thighs as with low calcium levels, body parts become stiff, and it gets difficult for them to move. Numbness can also be experienced in various body parts.
- Bone Problems (Osteoporosis): This disease is highly linked to low levels of calcium as bone density tends to reduce with calcium deficiencies. Osteoporosis can make bones fragile and more prone to fractures. Pain and posture problems are also associated with osteoporosis.
- Dental Problems: Teeth are mostly made up of calcium, and low levels of calcium can result in poor teeth health as tooth decay, brittle teeth, gum problems, weak roots, etc.
- Fatigue: Insomnia, low energies, sleepiness can be witnessed in people with low calcium levels. Symptoms of brain fog, dizziness, and light-headedness can also be experienced. People with this issue lacks activeness in their routines.
- Skin Symptoms: People with chronic low calcium levels can experience skin diseases and brittle nails. Usually, dry and itchy skin is seen in people with low calcium levels. Hypocalcemia can also result in alopecia, in which hair falls from the scalp in round patches.
- Abnormal Heart Rhythm: When calcium levels are not enough, it cannot contract heartbeat at a normal pace, which causes abnormal heartbeat.
- Depression: Low calcium intake can result in brain fog and a low thinking process, which turn people into depressed lives.
Symptoms Of Calcium deficiency
Also Read:
Treatment for Calcium Deficiency
[Click Here for Previous Year Questions]
- Supplements: The person who is suffering from calcium deficiency can go for taking supplements so that the deficiency can be removed. The supplements are in the form of acids, herbs, or enzymes. Supplements will cure the level of deficiency in the person.
- Healthy lifestyle: The person can follow a healthy lifestyle that helps them maintain a level of calcium in their body through decreased unhealthy food consumption.
- Seek a doctor: The person can seek a doctor if the level of deficiency increases to an extended level. The doctor will provide the appropriate advice and medicines to the person to make it easy for them to survive and live a better and healthy life.
Calcium is essential because it makes muscles strong, and it also plays an essential role in clotting. Hence, in the end, a person needs to follow a healthy lifestyle in order to maintain healthy calcium levels.
Things to Remember
- Calcium is an essential mineral for our body because it makes bones stronger.
- 99% of calcium is stored in our bones and teeth.
- It also helps in the regulation of muscles and controlling heart diseases.
- Calcium can also make a strong immune system and help in the metabolism of iron.
- The decline in magnesium levels, kidney diseases, thyroid problems, excessive sweat problems can cause calcium deficiency.
- Calcium can be obtained through food sources and dietary supplements.
- The deficiency of calcium will lead to major health issues in a body that can be cured with the help of increasing dairy products in the diet, or by following a healthy lifestyle in everyday life.
- Calcium deficiency can lead to muscle problems, depression, abnormal heart rhythm, dental problems, and fatigue.
Previous Year Questions
- Which one of the following is a micronutrient for plants?...[NEET 1996]
- Mg is a component of….[NEET 2000]
- A plant requires magnesium for...[NEET 2007]
- A prokaryotic autotrophic nitrogen fixing symbiont is found in..[NEET 2011]
- A system of rotating crops with legume or grass pasture to improve soil structure and fertility is called -...[NEET 2016]
- Best defined function of manganese in green plants is...[NEET 2012]
- Boron in green plants assists in...[NEET 2003]
- Deficiency symptoms of nitrogen and potassium are visible first in...[NEET 2014]
- For its activity, carboxypeptidase requires..[NEET 2012]
- Gray spots of oat are caused by deficiency of….[NEET 2003]
- If by radiation all nitrogenase enzyme is inactivated, then there will be no...[NEET 2004]
- In which of the following forms is iron absorbed by plants ?...[NEET 2018]
- Which one of the following statements is not correct during this process of nitrogen fixation?...[NEET 2010]
- which group of three elements shall affect most, both photosynthetic and mitochondrial electron transport?[NEET 2005]
- What is true for cyanobacteria...[NEET 2001]
Sample Questions
Ques. What kind of diseases a human can suffer due to calcium deficiency? (2 marks)
Ans. If calcium deficiency is found in children, then it will result in rickets. If this disease is found in adults, it will result in osteomalacia that can lead to muscle cramps and high blood pressure.
Ques. How calcium can provide good sleep? (1 mark)
Ans. Calcium provides the brain with amino acids so that it can produce melatonin that will help in inducing sleep. Thus, calcium can result in good sleep.
Ques. Describe symptoms of calcium deficiency. (5 marks)
Ans. Calcium deficiency is observed in people with various problems and can cause:
- Osteoporosis- This disease can be seen in people who are highly deficient in calcium as in this disease, bones become porous.
- Muscle Problems- People with low calcium intake usually face problems in their muscles as muscles of the main joints like shoulders and knees gradually become stiff and fatigue easily.
- Dental Problems- Teeth are mainly made up of calcium and minerals associated with it and with low calcium in the body can result in brittle teeth and gum problems.
- Fatigue- With low calcium intake in the body a person tends to experience brain fog, dizziness, and low activity levels. I
- Skin Problems- Itchy and dry skin is very common in people with low calcium intake. Calcium plays an important role in maintaining good skin health.
Ques. Describe the importance of calcium in the body. (3 marks)
Ans. Calcium is an important mineral as almost every cell of the body uses calcium. Bones, nervous system, and teeth require calcium for the maintenance and development of the cells. In order to avoid osteoporosis and future bones problems, an adequate supply of calcium is necessary as when the calcium levels decrease in the body, the body starts to consume calcium from the bones which causes multiple problems. Calcium is also required to maintain the hormonal level of the body as it maintains thyroid balances in the body. To consume vitamin D in the body, calcium is necessary. Hence, calcium is a very important mineral of the body.
Ques. What are various causes of deficiency of calcium in the body? (3 marks)
Ans. The deficiency of calcium can be seen in people who consume alcohol and have a high caffeine intake. In case of hormonal issues like people with thyroid issues have low calcium intake. Calcium deficiency can also be seen when a person takes a nutrient-deficient diet as most of the calcium is supplied to our body through diet. In the case of women at times of menstruation, calcium levels are usually low. Vitamin D, magnesium levels, and phosphate levels can also be responsible for fluctuating calcium levels. In times of extended requirements of calcium like pregnancy and breastfeeding, calcium levels are usually found low in the body.
Do Check Out:
Comments