Calcium Treatment

Dairy Calcium Intake Enhances Weight Loss in Overweight Diabetic Patients

2008-08-24T19:41:00.000-07:00

High intake of low-fat dairy products enhances weight loss in overweight patients with diabetes who are following isocaloric-restricted diets, according to the results of a study reported in the March issue of Diabetes Care.

"Recent studies suggest that calcium metabolism and perhaps other components of dairy products may contribute to weight reduction in animal and human models," write Danit R. Shahar, RD, PhD, of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beer-Sheva, Israel, and colleagues. "In addition, an accumulating body of evidence suggests that calcium-rich diets play a direct role in the prevention of obesity."

This was an ancillary study of a 6-month randomized clinical trial evaluating the effect of 3 isocaloric diets in type 2 diabetic patients: mixed-glycemic index carbohydrate diet, low-glycemic index diet, and modified Mediterranean diet. Based on personal choice, intake of low-fat dairy products varied within and across the groups. Dietary consumption, weight, cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors, and diabetes indices were measured at baseline and at 6 months.

The investigators enrolled 259 diabetic patients of average body mass index (BMI) more than 31 kg/m2, and mean age of 55 years. At baseline, there was no difference between the intervention groups in CVD risk factors, diabetes indicators, macronutrient intake, and nutrient intake from dairy products.

Dairy calcium intake was associated with percentage of weight loss. Compared with the lowest tertile of dairy calcium intake, the highest tertile had an odds ratio of 2.4 for weight loss of more than 8% (P = .04), after controlling for nondairy calcium intake, diet type, and the change in energy intake from baseline. Except for triglyceride levels, there was no apparent association between dairy calcium and other health indexes.

"A diet rich in dairy calcium intake enhances weight reduction in type 2 diabetic patients," the authors write. "Such a diet could be tried in diabetic patients, especially those with difficulty adhering to other weight reduction diets."

Study limitations include the fact that it is an ancillary study.

"Before recommending an increase in dairy consumption, it is important to take into consideration the possible negative effect of dairy products on prostate and breast cancer," the authors conclude. "The recommendation of a diet rich in low-fat dairy products seems highly appropriate for weight loss among diabetic patients, in general, and female diabetic patients in particular."

Tnuva Research Institute in Rehovot, Israel, supported this study. The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges, mandating that it must therefore be marked "advertisement" solely to indicate this fact.

Diabetes Care. 2007;30:485-489.

Extra Calcium May Prevent Hypertension Problems in Pregnant Women

2008-08-18T20:15:00.000-07:00

Expectant mothers may be able to prevent potentially serious medical problems in themselves and their babies simply by boosting their daily calcium intake, says a new systematic review. Not only that, but pregnant women at greatest risk for these problems may benefit most from the extra calcium.

The problems are gestational hypertension -- or high blood pressure associated with pregnancy -- and preeclampsia, a medical disorder of pregnant women characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine.

If untreated, both conditions can lead to potentially life-threatening medical problems for the mother and complications of preterm birth for the baby, including low birth weight and size, respiratory distress, long-term neurological deficits and even death.

"Pregnant women from communities with low dietary calcium who received at least 1.5 grams of calcium by mouth [daily] during the second half of pregnancy had a lower risk of hypertension and preeclampsia, and of severe complications including death, than women who received placebo treatment," said lead review author Dr. G.J. Hofmeyr.

The results were less dramatic for women with opportunities for better prenatal nutrition: "Women from communities with adequate dietary calcium had a small (10%) reduction in the risk of hypertension, but no significant reduction in the risk of preeclampsia or other adverse outcomes," said Hofmeyr, head of the obstetrics and gynecology department, East London Hospital Complex in South Africa.

The review appears in the current issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic reviews draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing medical trials on a topic.

The authors looked at 12 randomized controlled studies, one involving more than 4,000 expectant moms in North America. The most recent and largest of the studies -- conducted by the World Health Organization -- involved more than 8,000 pregnant women internationally.

Preterm birth, or birth before 37 weeks, often stems from high blood pressure and is the leading cause of newborn deaths, particularly in low-income countries. A newly released report from the Institute of Medicine found that 12.5% of U.S. births are preterm and cost society an estimated $26 billion a year.

The Cochrane review found that calcium supplementation during pregnancy is a safe and relatively inexpensive way to reduce the risk of high blood pressure in women more likely to develop it, as well as in women from communities where consumption of dietary calcium is low.

"Calcium supplementation may be of some benefit in reducing the morbidity associated with preeclampsia, and it does no harm," said Dr. John T. Repke, chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at Penn State University College of Medicine.

"There is really almost nothing to lose from trying this approach, and based on this Cochrane Review, potentially something to be gained," added Repke, who has been conducting research on preeclampsia and related disorders for nearly 30 years.

In January 2002, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued the following statement: "Daily calcium supplementation has not been shown to prevent preeclampsia and, therefore, is not recommended."

But the review may change the minds -- and clinical recommendations -- of some physicians because it is based on data not available in 2002. "The review is likely to convince health providers of the need to ensure that pregnant women have adequate calcium intake," Hofmeyr said.

Hypertensive disease occurs in approximately 12% to 22% of pregnancies and is directly responsible for 17.6% of maternal deaths in the United States alone, according to ACOG. An estimated 40,000 women around the world die each year due to gestational hypertension and its complications.

Preeclampsia affects an estimated 5% to 6% of first-time moms, and 2% to 3% of them develop severe forms of the disease.

Because preeclampsia is frequently a "silent" disease that may occur without any symptoms, women are encouraged to have their blood pressure checked regularly during pregnancy, even when they feel well, said Hofmeyr. When symptoms do occur, they may include swelling, headache, blurred vision and upper abdominal pain. Severe disease can result in seizures, and the disease is then called "eclampsia."

The exact cause of preeclampsia has yet to be identified. The only cure for the disease is delivery.

The review did not specify how much calcium in pregnancy is enough, but the authors said 1,500 mg per day was effective. They said more research was needed to find out if a lower dose would be effective in preventing gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.

Daily calcium supplements are thought to be safe by most doctors, and many women are already taking calcium as an added preventive safeguard against osteoporosis. One possible side effect associated with daily use of calcium supplements is stones of the kidney and urinary tract, but this remains controversial.

Most pregnant women in the United States are advised by their doctors to take prenatal vitamins daily, but the most common brands contain 500 milligrams of calcium or less, according to Repke.

SOURCE: Health Behavior News Service

Calcium During Pregnancy Could Save Lives

2008-08-18T20:07:00.000-07:00

A woman's need for meeting the current recommended levels of calcium just took on new urgency. In today's Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), scientists from McMaster University (Ontario, Canada) report that consuming sufficient calcium during pregnancy can reduce the risk of pregnancy- induced hypertension (PIH) and pre-eclampsia, a potentially fatal disorder of high blood pressure and kidney failure. Pregnancy-induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia affect up to one in seven American women and are leading causes of c-sections, pro-term births and low birth-weight babies, making them among the most important issues in pregnancy care.

The most extensive summary of randomized controlled trials in this area to date, McMaster researchers reviewed the data from 14 trials involving nearly 2,500 pregnant women. The compelling results indicate that 1,500 to 2,000 mg daily of calcium supplementation can lower the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension by 70% and the risk of pre-eclampsia by over 60%!

The analysis could identify no significant side-effects of increased calcium supplementation. The authors also noted that meeting calcium needs during pregnancy should reduce the incidence of related pre-term deliveries, low birth-weight babies and cesarean sections.

Experts Urge Pregnant Women: Get Your Calcium!

This point was supported in an accompanying editorial written by David A.McCarron, M.D., Co-Director of the Calcium Information Center, Co-Head of the Division of Nephrology, Hypertension and Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Dragon Health Sciences University and an accomplished hypertension researcher in his own right. 'There is a calcium crisis in this country," said Dr. McCarron. 'The most recent government survey shows that women of child-bearing age are consuming less than 600 mg of calcium a day, with many getting less than 400! The pre-natal vitamins most doctors prescribe just don't make up the difference -- they contain 200, maybe 300 mg of calcium. The bottom line is that pregnant and lactating women should increase their calcium intake to recommended levels through dietary means whenever possible, by including low-fat dairy products (such as milk, cheese, yogurt), certain dark green vegetables (such as broccoli and kale), and making up the difference by adding a reliable calcium supplement (like TUMS(R)). This simple, yet significant intervention could save thousands of lives and billions of dollars every year if employed by all women of child-bearing ago."

Dr. John Repke, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of the Center for Labor and Birth at Harvard Medical School's Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston concurred. "Demands of the growing fetus make pregnancy a time of high calcium demand. The mother's calcium intake must increase to protect against any short or long term complications. The McMaster study enhances our understanding of the life-long biological need for calcium and reemphasizes that every pregnant woman should meet the current NIH recommendations of 1,200 to 1,500 mg of calcium per day. I prescribe 2,000 mg of calcium supplementation daily for nearly all my pregnant patients." Dr. Repke also noted that the McMaster findings rest on an extensive body of earlier clinical and basic research which he and colleagues at Harvard and Johns Hopkins, among others, carried out over the past ten years.

BACKGROUND and STATISTICS

Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH) and Pre-eclampsia
* There are 4 million pregnancies per year in the U.S.
* PIH, or high blood pressure, occurs in approximately 15% of all pregnancies.
* Pre-eclampsia occurs in approximately 5% of all pregnancies.
* Pre-eclampsia increases the risk of pre-term births, low birth weight babies and c-section.
* PIH can develop into pre-eclampsia any time, but usually occurs after 20 weeks of gestation.
* PIH occurs more frequently in first time pregnancies, in women over 35, and with twins.
* Women with pre-existing hypertensive disorders or family histories of hypertension are considered at increased risk for PIH and pre-eclampsia.

Society's cost

* The total cost of care for premature infants in this country is $20-$40 billion annually.
* Hospital care for a premature baby averages over $2,000 per day, adding up to as much as $125,000 or more per infants as many premature infants must remain hospitalized for weeks or months.
* Hospital care of a very low birth weight baby can be $7,000 per day, totaling as much as half million dollars per infant!
* Higher birth weight is associated with longer life expectancy and lower life-long risk of hypertension, hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis.
* "Higher mortality among U.S. infants is in fact due entirely to a small excess of pre-term deliveries... The prevention of excess mortality among U.S. infants depends on the prevention of pre- term births...- Wilcox, at al; JAMA, March 1, 1995; Vol. 273, No. 9.

The Safety Of Calcium Supplementation

* Calcium supplementation of 1,500 to 2,000 mg daily can lower the risk of PIH by 7O% and the risk of pre-eclampsia by over 60% - Guyati, at al; JAMA, April 10, 1996; Vol. 275, No. 14.
* Adequate calcium during pregnancy is also necessary for protection of the mothers bones and teeth and for development of healthy fetal bones and teeth.
* Studies show no significant negative side-effects of increasing calcium intake during pregnancy, including kidney stones. Daily calcium intakes of up to 2,500 mg have been recognized as safe and do not increase the risk of any adverse health conditions.
* Most pre-natal vitamins contain only 200-300 mg of calcium.
* Chewable calcium is an excellent form of calcium for pregnant women: It Is inexpensive (Tums, for instance, costs less than $60 a year) and offers the added benefit of safe relief of heartburn, which women need during pregnancy.
* Because of it's high quality and superior safety, Tums was chosen by the NIH's division of Child and Human Development as the calcium supplement for the Calcium for Pre-Eclampsia Prevention (CPEP) trial.

Source : http://www.kidsource.com

Calcium could reduce severity of preeclampsia in pregnant women

2008-08-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

A new international level study has found that consuming enough amounts of calcium during pregnancy could help stave off a lethal condition called as preeclampsia, in which the blood pressure levels of the pregnant woman shoot up to dangerous levels.

But Dr. Jose Villar of the World Health Organization, who led this study, admitted that the extra calcium did not seem to reduce the number of women who suffered from this condition, but only reduced its severity. "Women under 20 are at particular risk of these complications and would benefit from consuming more calcium. All women should be sure that they have at least 1.2g of calcium during pregnancy," he said.

Reporting in the March issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the research team spread across the globe tracked the progress of 8300 women selected for the study. All these women had a low intake of dietary calcium to the tune of 600 milligrams a day. The women were randomly divided into two groups based on similar ages, demographic characteristics and blood pressure levels. One group was given 1.5 grams of calcium, while the other group received a placebo.

It was found that although calcium supplements did not significantly alter the incidence of preeclampsia, they did reduce the severity of it. Additionally, it was found that the high blood pressure was also controlled in the calcium group. These trials were held at centers of the WHO Maternal and Perinatal Research Network at "Rosario, Argentina; Assiut, Egypt; Nagpur and Vellore, India; Lima, Peru; East London and Johannesburg, South Africa; and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam."

But Dr. Marshall Lindheimer of the University of Chicago and a co-author of the report said they were disappointed since there was no conclusive evidence linking calcium intake to reduced incidence of preeclampsia. The exact mechanism of how calcium helped in preeclampsia was also not clear.

"It may affect the contractability of the blood vessels," he said. "Intracellular calcium is very important in muscle physiology. When you replenish the calcium, they [vessels] are in a more dilated state. It may be that effect which makes the disease less severe."

Preeclampsia affects about 9 percent of all pregnancies in the world with most cases being reported outside the United States where calcium deficiency is more marked. In extreme cases of preeclampsia, the woman can become affected by seizures, go into a coma or even die. It is recommended that pregnant women up their calcium intake to 1,200 milligrams per day through diet or supplements.

Refference : Darya Zarin (http://www.earthtimes.org)

Extra Calcium May Prevent Hypertension Problems in Pregnant Women

2008-08-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

By Joel R. Cooper, Contributing Writer
Health Behavior News Service

Expectant mothers may be able to prevent potentially serious medical problems in themselves and their babies simply by boosting their daily calcium intake, says a new systematic review. Not only that, but pregnant women at greatest risk for these problems may benefit most from the extra calcium.

The problems are gestational hypertension — or high blood pressure associated with pregnancy — and preeclampsia, a medical disorder of pregnant women characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine.

If untreated, both conditions can lead to potentially life-threatening medical problems for the mother and complications of preterm birth for the baby, including low birth weight and size, respiratory distress, long-term neurological deficits and even death.

“Pregnant women from communities with low dietary calcium who received at least 1.5 grams of calcium by mouth [daily] during the second half of pregnancy had a lower risk of hypertension and preeclampsia, and of severe complications including death, than women who received placebo treatment,” said lead review author Dr. G.J. Hofmeyr.

The results were less dramatic for women with opportunities for better prenatal nutrition: “Women from communities with adequate dietary calcium had a small (10 percent) reduction in the risk of hypertension, but no significant reduction in the risk of preeclampsia or other adverse outcomes,” said Hofmeyr, head of the obstetrics and gynecology department, East London Hospital Complex in South Africa.

The review appears in the current issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic reviews draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing medical trials on a topic.

The authors looked at 12 randomized controlled studies, one involving more than 4,000 expectant moms in North America. The most recent and largest of the studies — conducted by the World Health Organization — involved more than 8,000 pregnant women internationally.

Preterm birth, or birth before 37 weeks, often stems from high blood pressure and is the leading cause of newborn deaths, particularly in low-income countries. A newly released report from the Institute of Medicine found that 12.5 percent of U.S. births are preterm and cost society an estimated $26 billion a year.

The Cochrane review found that calcium supplementation during pregnancy is a safe and relatively inexpensive way to reduce the risk of high blood pressure in women more likely to develop it, as well as in women from communities where consumption of dietary calcium is low.

“Calcium supplementation may be of some benefit in reducing the morbidity associated with preeclampsia, and it does no harm,” said Dr. John T. Repke, chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at Penn State University College of Medicine.

“There is really almost nothing to lose from trying this approach, and based on this Cochrane Review, potentially something to be gained,” added Repke, who has been conducting research on preeclampsia and related disorders for nearly 30 years.

In January 2002, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued the following statement: “Daily calcium supplementation has not been shown to prevent preeclampsia and, therefore, is not recommended.”

But the review may change the minds — and clinical recommendations — of some physicians because it is based on data not available in 2002. “The review is likely to convince health providers of the need to ensure that pregnant women have adequate calcium intake,” Hofmeyr said.

Hypertensive disease occurs in approximately 12 percent to 22 percent of pregnancies and is directly responsible for 17.6 percent of maternal deaths in the United States alone, according to ACOG. An estimated 40,000 women around the world die each year due to gestational hypertension and its complications.

Preeclampsia affects an estimated 5 percent to 6 percent of first-time moms, and 2 percent to 3 percent of them develop severe forms of the disease.

Because preeclampsia is frequently a “silent” disease that may occur without any symptoms, women are encouraged to have their blood pressure checked regularly during pregnancy, even when they feel well, said Hofmeyr. When symptoms do occur, they may include swelling, headache, blurred vision and upper abdominal pain. Severe disease can result in seizures, and the disease is then called “eclampsia.”

The exact cause of preeclampsia has yet to be identified. The only cure for the disease is delivery.

The review did not specify how much calcium in pregnancy is enough, but the authors said 1.5 grams (or 1,500 milligrams) per day was effective. They said more research was needed to find out if a lower dose would be effective in preventing gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.

Daily calcium supplements are thought to be safe by most doctors, and many women are already taking calcium as an added preventive safeguard against osteoporosis. One possible side effect associated with daily use of calcium supplements is stones of the kidney and urinary tract, but this remains controversial. Most pregnant women in the United States are advised by their doctors to take prenatal vitamins daily, but the most common brands contain 500 milligrams of calcium or less, according to Repke.

Pregnant Women With Calcium Deficiency Release Lead Faster From Bones

2008-08-18T19:57:00.000-07:00

Pregnant women who don't consume enough calcium in their diets or through supplements show greater increases in lead in their bloodstreams than pregnant women with normal calcium levels, according to a new University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study.

Bone tissue contains 95% of the body's lead. In pregnant women who get less calcium, the bone tissue turns over, or "demineralizes," more rapidly than bone in other pregnant women and releases locked-up lead into the blood, researchers found.

Lead emerges from bone during the second half of pregnancy and might hurt both mothers and their babies, their work showed. The study, which was published in the November issue of the Journal of Epidemiology, also offers new evidence that calcium consumption can minimize bone demineralization in pregnant women.

"Past research has linked lead to many adverse conditions, including nervous system and possible cardiovascular problems," said Dr. Irva Hertz-Picciotto, professor of epidemiology at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill School of Public Health and lead author. "In this study, in which lead levels were very low overall, we saw that the same characteristics that predict greater lead at high exposures also predict a greater lead level even at a much lower range. That means there may be virtually no 'natural' background of blood lead for which man-made sources can't be identified."

The study involved 195 women who entered prenatal care at Magee-Women's Hospital in Pittsburgh between 1992 and 1995. Using a technique called atomic absorption spectrophotometry, researchers analyzed up to 5 blood samples from each woman for lead during her pregnancy and took extensive patient histories.

"We found not only that calcium intake at the recommended daily allowance level protected somewhat against lead, but also that higher calcium levels corresponded with even less lead," Hertz-Picciotto said. "The protective effect of calcium became stronger as pregnancy progressed."

The variables that correspond with more lead include smoking, less education, being black, and low calcium intake, she said. Variables associated with a reduced lead level include history of breast-feeding and higher calcium intake. "We are still trying to determine whether there are health effects from these low levels," Hertz-Picciotto said.

The blood lead levels of older mothers increased more during pregnancy compared with younger mothers. The researchers suggested that was because older mothers had accumulated more lead in their bones, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s when leaded gasoline was still used in automobiles.

Age and calcium had combined effects. From week 20 to week 40, for example, blood lead levels in pregnant women with low calcium intakes increased 25% for patients aged 18 years, 37% for patients aged 23 years, 65% for patients aged 33 years, and 99% at age 43, she said.

Pregnancy and the first 4 years after menopause are periods when women's bones are most likely to undergo turnover, including demineralization, the scientist said.

The new findings mirror those of a study published in 1994 of about 200 women in Mexico City whose blood lead levels were significantly higher because of pollution and greater exposure on average to lead at work and home.

Source: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/412237

Low Calcium May Equal High Lead Levels in Pregnant Women

2008-08-18T19:54:00.000-07:00

Most pregnant women pay close attention to nutrition. But one thing they may not be aware of is the link between calcium intake and lead. New research suggests that not getting enough calcium during this critical time can drive up levels of lead in the blood, which could be harmful to a developing baby.

Lead in a mother's blood may affect the development of various organs of the fetus, including the brain. In children, lead exposure has been linked to learning and intelligence problems.

During pregnancy, when the body's demand for calcium is high, not getting enough of the crucial mineral speeds up the production of new bone to replace old, dying bone. Because nearly all of the body's lead is stored away in bone, the lead "leaks" into the bloodstream when the bone turns over. It's a process that calcium can help prevent.

A study in the November issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology finds that women with the lowest levels of calcium -- gotten from either food or supplements -- also had the highest levels of lead in the blood. Although the study did not show any direct health impact on the fetus, the researchers say it's reasonable to assume that any amount of lead in the body would be potentially dangerous.

The study involved almost 200 pregnant women who had their blood drawn and tested for lead up to five times during their pregnancy. The women also reported on the amount of calcium in their diet from foods including milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, eggs, pizza, and fish.

"Definitely, the women who were getting very little calcium were at risk for higher blood lead levels," says lead author Irva Hertz-Picciotto, MD, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She says most of the women in the study reported getting the bulk of their daily calcium from milk and cheese pizza. Other common sources included vitamins and antacids.

In addition, black women had lower calcium intake and higher blood lead levels than white women, and smokers had lower calcium and higher lead than nonsmokers.

Hertz-Picciotto says the study suggests that women need to be getting above and beyond the recommended daily allowance of calcium during pregnancy to avoid rising lead levels. She says pregnant women should aim for a minimum of 2,000 mg of calcium per day, which is about 800 mg higher than current government recommendations.

Furthermore, women who get little calcium early in pregnancy may benefit from calcium supplements in addition to bulking up their diet with extra glasses of milk and other calcium-rich foods.

In the study, lead increased with each trimester due to the increasing demands on the body for calcium during pregnancy. Lead levels also increased with age.

A researcher who studies lead tells WebMD that the study is a practical reminder for women to pay particular attention to calcium when they're pregnant and make sure that they are meeting -- and exceeding -- the recommended amounts.

In addition, Howard Hu, MD, MPH, ScD, says women who think they have had lead exposures from work or other environmental sources like lead paint should consider seeing a specialist and have their blood lead levels tested.

But Hu, an associate professor of occupational medicine at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, says that much more research is needed to determine how much of a problem low calcium and increased lead in the blood may be. To answer that question, his research group is planning to give calcium supplements to pregnant women to see if it makes a difference in their blood lead levels.

source: This article is from the WebMD

Calcium Supplementation in Pregnancy

2008-08-12T21:18:00.000-07:00

Calcium supplementation before and early in pregnancy may help prevent blood pressure disorders, such as pre-eclampsia, a new study suggests.

Pre-eclampsia is a condition characterized by high blood pressure during pregnancy along with protein in the urine. It can cause serious complications for the mother and baby. Pre-eclampsia can decrease the supply of blood and oxygen available to the mother and developing child. This may result in conditions such as a lower birth weight and neurological (nervous system) damage. The mother is at risk for kidney problems, seizures, strokes, breathing problems and even death, in rare instances. The cause of pre-eclampsia is not known. Pre-eclampsia usually occurs during the second half of the pregnancy and affects about five percent of pregnant women.

Researchers from South Africa explained that calcium supplementation during pregnancy may reduce the risk of hypertensive (blood pressure) disorders of pregnancy. For their review, they searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (March 2006) and chose randomized trials comparing at least one gram of calcium daily during pregnancy with placebo. Eligibility and trial quality were assessed. Data were extracted and analyzed using Review Manager software.

Twelve studies (15,528 women) were included. The researchers reported that most women were at low risk and had low dietary calcium. The study found that high blood pressure was reduced with calcium supplementation rather than placebo in 11 trials involving a total of 14,946 women. Pre-eclampsia was reduced in 12 trials involving a total of 15,206 women.

The effect was greatest for women at high risk, as evidenced in five trials including 587 women. The effect was also significant in women with low baseline calcium intake, as seen in seven trials involving 10,154 women.

Researchers noted that there was variability, with less effect in the larger trials. The composite outcome maternal death or serious morbidity was reduced. The syndrome of hemolysis (excessive breakdown of red blood cells), elevated liver enzymes and low platelets was increased. There was no overall effect on the risk of preterm birth or stillbirth or death before discharge from the hospital.

The study authors concluded that calcium supplementation appears to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia and to reduce the rare occurrence of the composite outcome, “maternal death or serious morbidity.” There were no other clear benefits or harms.

The researchers also suggested that adequate dietary calcium before and during early pregnancy may be needed to prevent the underlying pathology responsible for pre-eclampsia. Additionally, the research agenda should be redirected towards calcium supplementation at a community level.

Integrative therapies with strong or good scientific evidence in the prevention and/or treatment of pre-eclampsia and related conditions include omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid, coenzyme Q10, hibiscus, Qi gong, stevia and yoga.

Source: http://blog.naturalstandard.com

Vitamin D, Calcium vs. Breast Cancer

2008-08-11T20:15:00.000-07:00

Study Shows Vitamin D and Calcium in Diet May Lower Breast Cancer Risk

By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Health News

Here is growing evidence linking vitamin D and calcium in the diet to a reduced risk of breast cancer, but the benefits may be limited to younger women.In a new study from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, a high intake of calcium and vitamin D through food sources and nutritional supplements was linked to modestly lower risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women.The link appeared strongest for the most aggressive tumors, and it was not seen after menopause.

Researcher Jennifer Lin, PhD, says older women are more likely to be deficient in calcium and vitamin D, so they may need higher levels of the nutrients than were measured in the study."Calcium and vitamin D are important for overall health and, additionally, they may help prevent breast cancer," she tells WebMD.
Evidence 'Fairly Consistent'

Roughly 31,000 women enrolled in the larger Women's Health Study were included in the analysis by Lin and colleagues. The findings were published May 28 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

All of the women were aged 45 or older, and two-thirds were postmenopausal. The women completed questionnaires at study entry and periodically after that were designed to determine their medical history and lifestyle, including the foods they ate and supplements they took. Over an average of 10 years of follow-up, 276 premenopausal and 743 postmenopausal study participants developed breast cancer.

Premenopausal women with the highest intakes of calcium and vitamin D had modestly reduced risk of breast cancer compared with women who got the lowest amount of the nutrients through food and supplemental sources.

The findings are similar to those reported in 2002 by another group of Harvard researchers. In that study, calcium and vitamin D through dairy sources were associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer before, but not after, menopause.

Dietary calcium and vitamin D were found to lower breast cancer risk in a cancer prevention study reported by researchers from the American Cancer Society (ACS).ACS nutritional epidemiologist Marji McCullough, ScD, RD, who reported the findings, tells WebMD that more study is needed to understand how vitamin D and calcium influence breast cancer risk.

"The evidence of a modest protective benefit [for dietary vitamin D and calcium] is fairly consistent, but we still don't know if premenopausal and postmenopausal women benefit equally," she says.

What About the Sun

Current dietary recommendations call for people aged 50 and under to consume just 200 international units (IU) of vitamin D a day, with 400 IU recommended for those between the ages of 51 and 70, and 600 IU recommended after age 70.

Many experts now agree that these levels are too low. Longtime vitamin D researcher Cedric Garland, DrPH, says most people should get between 1,000 IU to 1,500 IU a day.
Excessive vitamin D can lead to toxicity. You should talk to your doctor about the use of supplements prior to taking them.

Dairy products and oily fish like salmon and tuna are some of the best food sources for vitamin D, but it would be difficult to get that much vitamin D in foods alone.

The easiest way for the body to get vitamin D is through sun exposure, because ultraviolet rays from the sun trigger the natural synthesis of vitamin D.

An 8-ounce glass of milk contains only 100 IU of vitamin D. By comparison, someone who spends 10 to 15 minutes in the sun on a sunny day without sunscreen can absorb 2,000 to 5,000 IU of vitamin D if 40% of their body is exposed, Garland says.

Recommending sun exposure is controversial because of the risk of skin cancer, and Garland tells WebMD that it is possible to get all the vitamin D the body needs through foods and dietary supplements.

"Ideally a mix is good, with some vitamin D coming from food, some from supplements, and some from sun if people can handle sunlight," he says.

Considering the Evidence

he American Cancer Society, the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention, and other interested health groups from the U.S. and Canada met early last year to consider the evidence on sun exposure, vitamin D, and health.

The coalition concluded that the evidence is "strong" linking vitamin D to a decreased risk of bone fractures in the elderly. With regard to cancer risk, the group concluded that "a growing body of evidence" suggests a protective benefit for some cancers.

The coalition noted that the risks of unprotected exposure to the sun as a source of vitamin D had to be weighed against the benefits.

"To minimize the health risks associated with ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation exposure while maximizing the potential benefits of optimum vitamin D status, supplementation and small amounts of sun exposure are the preferred methods of obtaining vitamin D," the group concluded.

McCullough says 10 minutes a day of unprotected sun exposure in the spring and summer is plenty for most people, and more than this is too much.

"We need to make sure that people don't interpret this as meaning that going to the beach and sunbathing for hours without sunscreen is a good idea," she says.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news

Too much calcium may raise prostate cancer risk

2008-08-11T20:10:00.000-07:00

Men who consume a lot of calcium may have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, concludes new research.

Association for Cancer Research's annual cancer prevention meeting, was based on 17 years of follow-up and 1269 incident cases of prostate cancer identified in theAlpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Study.

Analysis of the data revealed that men who consumed more than 2000mg of calcium per day nearly doubled their risk of developing prostate cancer.

The findings could have implications for the dietary supplements industry, as well as mainstream foods, increasingly fortified with calcium in a bid to protect bones from the growing risk of osteoporosis.

The researchers noted that the risk of prostate cancer seemed to be clearly linked to calcium, and not overall dairy intake. Although dairy product intake increased the risk of prostate cancer, no association remained after controlling for calcium.

And with the exception of cream, which showed a significant trend toward an increased prostate cancer risk across intake levels, other individual dairy products showed no association.

Nor was there any evidence of a link for intake of vitamin D or phosphorous.

Panagiota Mitrou from the National Cancer Institute, and lead author of the study, said: "These results might explain the positive association seen with dairy products in our previous studies. Further research should focus on how dietary calcium could affect prostate cancer."

Source: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/

Calcium may reduce colon cancer risk, but is it safe?

2008-08-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

by Kristina Collins
from http://www.thecancerblog.com/bloggers/kristina-collins

In the January issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, findings were published that says calcium seems to protect high-risk people from developing polyps in the colon. Polyps are growths in the colon and some can become cancerous over time.

Patients, who had a history of benign polyps, either took 1,200 milligrams of calcium in supplement form or received a placebo daily for four years. In this study it showed that calcium use was associated with a 17 percent lower risk for polyp recurrence.

"It really does look like calcium interferes with carcinogenesis in the large bowel" researcher John A. Baron, MD, tells WebMD. "The fact that this reduction in risk persisted for years after people stopped taking calcium is amazing".

Baron also stated that it is still not clear if the benefits outweigh the risk since some studies have linked calcium treatment with an increase in prostate cancer risk.

On the flip side a University of Arizona epidemiology professor Maria Elena, PhD, worries that the findings will make people think that all they need to do to protect themselves from colorectal cancer is to increase their calcium intake, which in men high doses can be dangerous.

The best way to prevent colon cancer is to get a colonoscopy when you turn fifty and make sure you have follow-ups. That is not as easy as popping a pill but its true.

The American Cancer Society recommends that adults aged 19 to 50 take in 1,000 milligrams per day of calcium and that those over 50 get 1,200 milligrams. The guidelines stress that the calcium should come primarily from food sources and not supplements.

Vitamin D, calcium may prevent, improve diabetes

2008-08-11T19:56:00.000-07:00

By Stephen Daniells

Combined supplementation with vitamin D and calcium may improve blood sugar and insulin levels, suggests a new meta-analysis and review

Although the evidence to date suggests that vitamin D and calcium deficiency influences post-prandial glycaemia and insulin response while supplementation may be beneficial in optimizing these processes, our understanding of the exact mechanisms by which vitamin D and calcium may promote beta cell function, or ameliorate insulin resistance and systemic inflammation is incomplete," wrote lead author Anastassios Pittas."It is also not clear whether the effects are additive or synergistic," he added.

Vitamin D refers to two biologically inactive precursors - D3, also known as cholecalciferol, and D2, also known as ergocalciferol. The former, produced in the skin on exposure to UVB radiation (290 to 320 nm), is said to be more bioactive. The latter is derived from plants and only enters the body via the diet, from consumption of foods such as oily fish, egg yolk and liver.

Both D3 and D2 precursors are hydroxylated in the liver and kidneys to form 25- hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), the non-active 'storage' form, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), the biologically active form that is tightly controlled by the body

Writing in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Pittas and co-workers reviewed data from observational studies and clinical trials in adults with results related to the control of glucose.

The data from observational studies showed a "relatively consistent association" between low intakes of calcium, vitamin D, or dairy intake and type-2 diabetes, with highest levels associated with a 64 per cent lower prevalence of the disease, and a 29 per cent lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome among non-blacks.

When intake of calcium and vitamin D was combined, the inverse associations were still observed, with the highest versus lowest combined intake being associated with an 18 per cent lower incidence of diabetes.

"Evidence from trials with vitamin D and/or calcium supplementation suggests that combined vitamin D and calcium supplementation may have a role in the prevention of type-2 diabetes only in populations at high risk (i.e. glucose intolerance)," wrote the reviewers from Tufts-New England Medical Center.

They noted that research into this area remains limited and called for future research to focus on clarifying and quantifying the link between calcium intake and 25(OH)D levels and the incidence of type-2 diabetes.

"Additionally, there is a need for randomized trials to examine the effects of vitamin D and/or calcium supplementation with intermediary endpoints (glucose tolerance, insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity) and ultimately with incident type-2 diabetes," they added.

"The results of future studies will define the clinical role of vitamin D and calcium as potential interventions for prevention and management of t2DM, which will have significant public health implications since vitamin D and calcium insufficiency is common in US adults and both interventions can be implemented easily and inexpensively in clinical practice."

An estimated 19 million people are affected by diabetes in the EU 25, equal to four per cent of the total population. This figure is projected to increase to 26 million by 2030.

In the US, there are over 20 million people with diabetes, equal to seven per cent of the population. The total costs are thought to be as much as $132 billion, with $92 billion being direct costs from medication, according to 2002 American Diabetes Association figures.

Source: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

June 2007, Volume 92, Number 6, Pages 2017-2029. doi:10.1210/jc.2007-0298

"The Role of Vitamin D and Calcium in type 2 diabetes. A systematic Review and Meta-Analysis"

Authors: A.G. Pittas, J. Lau, F. Hu, B. Dawson-Hughes

What’s For Breakfast? Whole Grains and Calcium!

2008-08-11T19:50:00.000-07:00

by Tara Dairman from http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/blog/Tara_Dairman

“What should I eat?” is one of the most common questions asked by people with diabetes, and for good reason. With almost every bite of food there are carbohydrates to count, not to mention calories, fat, vitamins, and minerals to consider. Two new studies may not have all the answers, but their results may help narrow the field down when it comes to breakfast choices for people with diabetes who are trying to lose weight and protect their hearts.

The first study, published this month in the journal Diabetes Care, found that a diet rich in calcium from low-fat dairy products led to more weight loss in overweight people with Type 2 diabetes. This finding was actually the by-product of a six-month study of three different diets: a modified Mediterranean diet, a mixed glycemic index diet, and a low glycemic index diet. (A Mediterranean diet tends to be rich in vegetables, fruits, grains, beans, nuts, olive oil, and fish; the glycemic index measures how quickly different foods raise blood glucose levels, and foods that have a higher glycemic index tend to raise blood glucose levels more quickly. Click here and scroll down to view the glycemic index values of some common foods.)

In the study, 259 overweight people with Type 2 diabetes, average age 55 years old, were randomly assigned to follow one of the three diets for six months. However, dairy consumption was not specified by the diet plans, and it varied from participant to participant depending on personal choice. When the numbers were crunched at the end of the study, the researchers found that the people in all groups who ate the most calcium from low-fat dairy had 2.4-fold better odds of losing more than 8% of their body weight than the people who had the lowest intake of low-fat dairy. This finding held fast even though the high-dairy group consumed more calories than the low-dairy group.

Why did this happen? The researchers write that "Dietary calcium plays a pivotal role in the regulation of energy metabolism," a phenomenon that had been seen in rodent studies in the past. The researchers also hypothesize that the inclusion of good-tasting, low-fat dairy products may help overweight people stick to a reduced-calorie diet.

The results of another recent study found an association between eating whole-grain breakfast cereal and a lowered risk of heart failure. This finding, presented on March 2 at an American Heart Association conference, came out of the Physicians' Health Study. The study followed 10,469 doctors from 1982 to 2006 and assessed their diets and heart health each year by questionnaire. At the start of the study, participants' average age was about 54.

The study found that participants who reported eating whole-grain breakfast cereal (defined as containing at least 25% oat or bran content) seven times a week or more at the beginning of the study had a 28% lower chance of developing heart failure over the course of the study compared to those who never ate whole-grain cereal. Participants who ate whole-grain breakfast cereal two to six times a week had a 22% lower risk of heart failure, while those who ate it up to once a week had a 14% lower risk.

Whole-grain cereals are naturally rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which may account for the reduced risk. While this study did not focus specifically on people with diabetes, the findings are relevant to them because having diabetes puts people at an increased risk of developing heart disease.

Years of research have shown that eating breakfast helps people lose weight or maintain weight loss. Now, these two new studies have suggested that starting the day with a bowl of whole-grain cereal and low-fat milk or yogurt can play an important role in achieving both weight loss and heart health.

Bowel cancer: Can calcium prevent it?

2008-08-11T19:45:00.000-07:00

Trials have shown that daily calcium can prevent bowel polyps. There is still no final answer on whether or not this also prevents bowel cancer.

Bowel or colorectal cancer usually occurs in the large bowel or colon. The chances of getting bowel cancer are low for most people. People can be at much higher risk if this cancer is common in their close family.

Bowel cancer usually develops slowly over years. Small harmless growths start in the mucus lining on the inside of the bowel. These are called polyps or adenomas. Almost all of these stay small and harmless. Some can grow though, and then the risk increases that they might develop into cancer. It has been estimated that only about 5 out of 100 of these bowel polyps (5%) ever become cancerous. It takes about 5 to 10 years for polyps to turn into cancer.

Researchers have assumed for years that there is a connection between diet and the risk of bowel cancer. However it is still unclear if there are particular foods or nutrients that can prevent bowel cancer.

The mineral calcium is one candidate that researchers have studied. Laboratory and animal studies show that calcium could possibly interfere with the development of cancerous cells in the bowel. Calcium occurs naturally, especially in milk and milk products. To try to prevent bowel cancer, though, relatively high levels of calcium supplementation have been studied. It is not possible to reach levels this high through diet alone.

The current state of scientific knowledge was described in a systematic review from the Cochrane Collaboration. The researchers searched for all trials that tested whether calcium supplements could prevent bowel cancer.

The results were limited: two trials, in which more than 1,300 people took part. Both were randomised controlled trials. The basic principle: Volunteers agree to be divided into two groups. Only one of these groups would take calcium supplements, while the other would get a calcium-free placebo or dummy supplement. Both men and women were included in both the trials. All had already had bowel polyps identified and removed in the past.

The people taking calcium in one trial took 1,000 mg a day for about four years. In the other trial, it was 2,000 mg a day for about three years. After this, all participants in the trials had a colonoscopy to examine their bowels. This enabled the researchers to see how many had developed new polyps. These people could have at increased risk of developing bowel cancer.

The result: Hardly anyone had developed bowel cancer in the three or four years, regardless of whether they were in the calcium group or not. There were too few to be sure that calcium had reduced the risk of getting bowel cancer.

However the results for polyps were clear. For every 100 people who took the calcium supplements, 23 new bowel polyps developed (23%) compared to 29 new polyps in every 100 people taking placebos (29%). This difference suggests calcium has a protective effect, but the Cochrane researchers remain cautious. A supplement that slows down the development of harmless polyps is not guaranteed to be able to prevent cancer. But more research is worthwhile.

A large American trial, the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), studied whether bowel cancer could be prevented with a comparatively lower dose of calcium, that also included vitamin D. More than 36,200 women who had been through the menopause participated in this trial. This means that their risk of bowel cancer was not particularly high.

The women took the supplement for around seven years on average. That did not appear to have a protective effect against bowel cancer. However, the women's bowel health was not assessed as carefully before they started taking the supplements, and there was no bowel examination at the end of the trial either. The dose of calcium was lower than the dose included in the Cochrane review. So the Cochrane researchers concluded that the WHI trial was not ideally suited to answer the question of whether or not calcium supplementation can protect against bowel cancer.

Source:

Wactawski-Wende J, Kotchen JM, Anderson GL, Assaf AR et al (Women's Health Initiative Investigators). Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and the risk of colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med 2006; 354: 684-696. [Full text]

Weingarten MA, Zalmanovici A, Yaphe J. Dietary calcium supplementation for preventing colorectal cancer and adenomatous polyps. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 1.

Vitamin D and Calcium May Lower the Risk for Type 2 Diabetes in Women

2008-08-11T06:20:00.000-07:00

Vitamin D and calcium intake in relation to type 2 diabetes in women, by A.G. Pittas and colleagues. Diabetes Care 29:650–656, 2006.

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

A lack of vitamin D and calcium may be linked to getting type 2 diabetes.
Why did the researchers do this particular study?

The researchers wanted to see if there was a link between vitamin D and calcium intake and getting type 2 diabetes.
Who was studied?

More than 80,000 women who took part in the Nurses' Health Study.
How was the study done?

The women regularly received check-ups for a period of 20 years. Every two to four years, the researchers sent questionnaires to the women to figure out how much vitamin D and calcium they consumed.
What did the researchers find?

Over the course of 20 years, over 4,800 women developed type 2 diabetes. The researchers found that a combined intake of over 1,200 milligrams of calcium and over 800 units of vitamin D was linked with a 33% lower risk for type 2 diabetes (as compared to women who took much smaller amounts of calcium and vitamin D). The results show that consuming higher amounts of vitamin D and calcium help lower the risk for type 2 diabetes in women.
What were the limitations of the study?

This study relied on responses to questionnaires to assess vitamin D and calcium intake. Some women may have given inaccurate responses.

Almost all of the women in this study were white. The results of this study may not be the same in other racial or ethnic groups or in men.
What are the implications of the study?

A high intake of vitamin D and calcium was linked with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes in this study. If future studies confirm the results of this study, increasing intake of vitamin D and calcium may be an inexpensive and easy way to help prevent type 2 diabetes.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Calcium, Vitamin D, and the Metabolic Syndrome in Middle-Aged and Older Women

The Other "C": Getting Your Calcium Diabetes Food and Nutrition Bible

Calcium's role in cancer

2008-08-11T06:16:00.000-07:00

By Karen Collins, R.D.
Special to MSNBC

For some time, nutrition researchers have thought that sufficient amounts of calcium in the diet may protect people from colon cancer. The results of studies vary, however. Two new explanations for this inconsistency have been offered: First, the source of calcium may make a difference. Second, inherited differences in the “receptors” on cells that process nutrients could safeguard some people more than others.

There are still good theoretical reasons linking calcium consumption to a reduced risk of colon cancer, however. These reasons tend to be supported by both laboratory and human studies.

One of the most recent analyses pooled data from ten different studies in five countries. People who consumed the most calcium had a 20 percent lower risk of colorectal cancer than those people who consumed the least calcium.

In another study, women who met or nearly met current adult calcium recommendations reduced their risk of colorectal cancer almost 30 percent compared to those who ate half the recommended amount. In this study, total calcium consumption was more significant than dairy product consumption, and vitamin D was not linked to risk.

In addition to these studies, others have shown from 15 to 30 percent drops in colorectal cancer risk for people with high calcium consumption.

High Calcium Intake Linked to Prostate Cancer

2008-08-11T06:14:00.000-07:00

Moderation Is Recommended

Experts say excessive calcium intake may be unwise in light of recent studies showing that high amounts of the mineral may increase risk of prostate cancer.

"There is reasonable evidence to suggest that calcium may play an important role in the development of prostate cancer," says Carmen Rodriguez, MD, senior epidemiologist in the epidemiology and surveillance research department of the American Cancer Society (ACS) .

But evidence also shows calcium may lower the risk of colon cancer and age-related thinning of the bones, so moderation in intake makes more sense than avoiding the mineral completely, notes Rodriguez.

Studies Show Calcium-Prostate Cancer Link
Rodriguez says that a 1998 Harvard School of Public Health study of 47,781 men found those consuming between 1,500 and 1,999 mg of calcium per day had about double the risk of being diagnosed with metastatic (cancer that has spread to other parts of the body) prostate cancer as those getting 500 mg per day or less.

And those taking in 2,000 mg or more had over four times the risk of developing metastatic prostate cancer as those taking in less than 500 mg.

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of calcium is 1,000 mg per day for men, and 1,500 mg for women.

Later in 1998, Harvard researchers published a study of dairy product intake among 526 men diagnosed with prostate cancer and 536 similar men not diagnosed with the disease. That study found a 50% increase in prostate cancer risk and a near doubling of risk of metastatic prostate cancer among men consuming high amounts of dairy products, likely due, say the researchers, to the high total amount of calcium in such a diet.

In 2000, a study involving some of the same authors focused on smokers in Finland. The study found that risk did not go up as calcium intake increased, and the authors called evidence of a calcium-prostate cancer link inconclusive.

The most recent Harvard study on the topic, published in October 2001, looked at dairy product intake among 20,885 men and found men consuming the most dairy products had about 32% higher risk of developing prostate cancer than those consuming the least.

Rodriguez says the evidence is not yet conclusive, but that the reason for the link between calcium and prostate cancer suggested by the researchers makes sense.

They note that the more calcium a person takes in through diet, the less the body produces of a kind of vitamin D — calcitriol — which has been shown to reduce replication of prostate cancer cells.

Calcium Benefits Important
Rodriguez says that while excess calcium intake may be linked to prostate cancer risk, it’s important to remember the mineral’s ability to help prevent osteoporosis (weakening of the bones usually associated with aging), and possibly to lower risk of colon cancer.

"Calcium appears to lower the risk of colon cancer, starting at about 700 mg of calcium per day, but taking more doesn’t give more protection," says Marji McCullough, a nutritional epidemiologist with ACS.

An 8-ounce glass of milk contains about 300 mg of calcium, an ounce of cheese has about 200 mg, and a serving of yogurt has about 312 mg, notes McCullough.

Moderation Is Best Strategy
Rodriguez and McCullough say that a middle ground between too little and too much calcium is the most sensible approach at this time.

"Moderate amounts of calcium may help reduce risk of colon cancer, but too much may increase risk of prostate cancer," notes Rodriguez. "Until more is known, men probably should avoid taking in more than the RDA of 1,000 mg of calcium per day."

"Moderation and balance are the keys here," concludes Rodriguez

Refference:This article took from http://www.cancer.org

Extra Calcium May Prevent Hypertension Problems in Pregnant Women

2008-08-11T06:03:00.000-07:00

Calcium Intake May Protect Against Bone Loss During Moderate Weight Loss

2008-08-10T22:47:00.000-07:00

News Author: Laurie Barclay, MD
CME Author: Désirée Lie, MD, MSEd

Healthy, overweight, premenopausal women had no bone loss with moderate weight reduction if they consumed 1 or 1.8 g/day of calcium, according to the results of a study reported in the April issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

"Weight loss is associated with bone loss, but this has not been examined in overweight premenopausal women," write Claudia S. Riedt, from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and colleagues. "Compared with obese persons, overweight persons may be more susceptible to bone loss due to reduced weight bearing, diminished extraovarial estrogen synthesis due to smaller fat depots, and reduced calcium intake due to lower energy requirements, especially during dieting.... Our aims were to examine bone turnover and mass in overweight premenopausal women with weight reduction at recommended or high calcium intakes and to determine the role of calcium absorption and hormonal regulators."

In the current study, 44 overweight premenopausal women were randomized to either normal (1 g/day) or high (1.8 g/day) calcium intake during 6 months of energy restriction (weight loss groups) or were recruited for weight maintenance with calcium intake of 1 g/day. Mean age was 38 ± 6.4 years, and mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.7 ± 2.1 kg/m2.

Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry measured regional bone mineral density (BMD) and content. A dual-stable calcium isotope method measured true fractional calcium absorption at baseline and during caloric restriction. Markers of bone turnover were measured before and after weight loss.

The weight loss groups lost 7.2% ± 3.3% of initial body weight. There was no significant decrease in BMD or rise in bone turnover with weight loss at normal or high calcium intake. In the group with high calcium intake, there was a strong correlation (r = 0.71) between increased femoral neck BMD and increased serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. There was no significant effect of weight loss on true fractional calcium absorption, and the total calcium absorbed was adequate (238 ± 81 mg/day in the normal-calcium weight loss group, and 310 ± 91 mg/day in the high-calcium weight loss group).

Study limitations include concerns about the validity of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry measurements in heavier people and in weight loss studies.

"We showed that dieting overweight premenopausal women do not lose bone with intakes of 1.0 or 1.8 g Ca/d, which may be explained by sufficient amounts of absorbed calcium," the authors conclude. "Furthermore, bone turnover was not up-regulated, and the calcium-PTH [parathyroid hormone] axis was not significantly increased because of weight loss. We suggest that overweight premenopausal women do not lose bone with moderate weight loss when consuming the recommended intake for calcium."

Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;85:972-980.

THE ROLE OF SEMINALCALCIUM IN MALE INFERTILITY

2008-08-10T22:01:00.000-07:00

It has long been known that extracellular calcium is required for successful fertilization. In all systems examined, an influx of Ca+2, is required to initiate the acrosomal reaction, with its attendant release of enzymes and membrane alterations necessary for sperm-egg interaction.

There is also evidence that this ion may be involved in sperm motility . In the present study, the mean seminal calcium value in fertile men was found to be higher than those of both infertile groups. The lowest value detected in the normozoospermic infertile groups was significant when compared to the fertile men . These findings may suggest that significantly decreased seminal calcium may be related to infertility seen in normozoospermic subjects. In a study performed by Umeyama et al., seminal calcium concentrations were almost the same between fertile and infertile men, and the highest level was determined in the normozoospermic infertile subjects. Our findings do not confirm these results, but are similar with those of Abou-Shakra , who determined the lowest concentration in the normozoospermic infertile group, being nonsignificant in relation to infertility classification.

A study by Prien et al. examined the relationship between sperm motility and seminal Ca++. They determined that seminal fluid of men with hypomotility exhibited a significantly lower Ca++ concentration when compared with that of men with normal motility. Although we have assessed total calcium level, our results do not support this finding, since we have found weak and negative, but nonsignificant correlations
between seminal calcium and sperm motility both in the fertile and infertile groups .

However, another study indicating that a high concentration of calcium suppresses sperm motility, confirms our findings . Of the 33 infertile subjects included in our study, 27 were asthenozoospermic; in order to draw a more definite conclusion about seminal calcium and sperm motility, we plan to determine ionized calcium (Ca++) level in the seminal fluid in a group including only asthenozoospermic infertile men, and make comparison with samples exhibiting normal sperm motility. When our results are evaluated with those of other reports, it may be concluded that seminal calcium may be involved in sperm motility, and this effect can be stimulatory or inhibitory, depending on its concentration.

As reported by Fraser , an optimal seminal calcium concentration is required to promote sperm motility, and all steps leading to successful fertilization. The most important result of our study reveal that seminal calcium concentration has to be determined in normozoospermic infertile men, who also have the asthenozoospermia problem. Further study is necessary for an understanding of the male infertility and seminal calcium relationships.

REFERENCES
Umeyama T, H Ishikawa, H Takeshima, et al : A comparative study of seminal trace elements in fertile and infertile men.Fertil Steril 46:494-499, 1986.

Prien SD, CD Lox, RH Messer, et al: Seminal concentrations of total and ionized calcium from men with normal and decreased motility. Fertil Steril 54:171-172, 1990.

Abou-Shakra FR, NI Ward and DM Everard : The role of trace elements in male infertility. Fertil Steril 52:307-310, 1989.

Zanaveld LJD, CJ Dejonge, RA Anderson et al : Human sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction. Human Reprod 6:1265-1274, 1989.

Fraser LR : Motility patterns in mouse spermatozoa before and after capacitation. J Exp Zool 202:439-444, 1977.

Yanagimachi R and N Usui : Calcium dependence of the acrosome reaction and activation of guinea pig spermatozoa. Exp Cell Res 89:161-174, 1974.

Arver S : Studies on zinc and calcium in human seminal plasma. Acta Physiol Scand 507(suppl):1, 1982.

Fraser LR : Minimum and maximum extracellular Ca+2 requirements during mouse sperm capacitation and fertilization invitro. J Reprod Fert 81:77-89, 1987.

Calcium for Arthritis Treatment

2008-08-10T21:53:00.000-07:00

Arthritis…..the first thing comes in your mind is bones and joints. Bones and joints are mainly composed of calcium. In arthritis calcium deficiency is due to stimulating enzymes. Calcium deficiency could be controlled by balanced diet or calcium supplement.

It is observed that many people are confused regarding the relation between osteoarthritis and calcium. Some people think that osteoarthritis is caused due to calcium deposition in joints, and hence osteoarthritis patients should avoid too much of calcium. But according to other group, calcium deficiency leads to osteoarthritis, hence to treat osteoarthritis more calcium is needed. To some extent both groups’ opinions are convincing. But if you are rigid about one school of thought then it might lead to devastating results.

Ironically, osteoarthritis is caused due to both deposition and loss of calcium from the joints. It can be said that calcium loss and deposition are two aspects of the same disease. In fact calcium deposition is not caused due to excess dietary calcium. It is caused due to lack of dietary calcium. Mainly enzymatic system and hormonal imbalance are responsible for the loss and deposition of calcium. If proper management of calcium is not carried out then it might be harmful for osteoarthritis patients.

Facts You Need To Know About Calcium:

The general advice given to keep your bones strong as you grow old is to take enough calcium. If you are young (below 50 yrs) then expected quantity of calcium you need to take is 1,000 mg/day. In case you are old (above 50 yrs) then the expected quantity you need to take is 1,200mg/day. By eating proper and balanced diet you can get sufficient amount of calcium. Rich sources of calcium are

* Green leafy vegetables
* Cereal and wheat flour
* Low fat milk
* Cheese, yogurt, tofu
* Calcium fortified orange juice
* Almonds, figs, raisins
* Blackeye peas

Incase you are unable to get sufficient amount of calcium from your diet then it is advisable to take calcium supplement

Few More Calcium Basics You Need to Know:

To ensure your body is getting right calcium dosage you need to know few more basics about calcium.

* Check the quantity of elemental calcium in the supplement which will be absorbed by your body
* It is advisable to take smaller doses of calcium several times in a day as only 500 mgs of calcium is absorbed by your body at a time.
* To absorb calcium efficiently your body requires Vitamin D, so make sure that your calcium supplement contains both

According to the Arthritis Foundation an average adult takes approximately 550 mgs of calcium per day. As per US Recommended Daily Allowance ranges between 800-1200 mg. Most of the adults around the world are calcium deficient as well as suffering from bone and joint disorders. So it could be concluded that the chances to develop arthritis are higher in people with calcium deficiency. Lastly, remember to take calcium which can be easily absorbed like calcium lactate or calcium citrate.

Note: Calcium deficiency is created by stimulating enzymes. This calcium deficiency leads to rupturing, dissolving or destroying of the joints.

refference: http://arthritis.ygoy.com/calcium-for-arthritis-treatment/

Calcium and vitamin D most effective for treatment of Crohn's-related bone loss

2008-08-10T21:50:00.000-07:00

According to a study published today in the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the addition of popular bone building drugs to calcium and vitamin D therapy to treat bone loss associated with Crohn's disease is not beneficial. Moreover, the study shows that calcium and vitamin D treatment alone can improve bone mineral density (BMD) in Crohn's patients by 3 to 4 percent per year.

"Patients with Crohn's often suffer loss of bone mass and an increased number of bone fractures due to treatment with corticosteroids, poor nutrition, active inflammation and calcium and vitamin D deficiencies," said Charles Bernstein, MD, author of an editorial appearing in this month's journal. "calcium and vitamin D have long been used to enhance bone mass in people with Crohn's, and findings of these studies show it to be sufficient in maintaining BMD in these patients."

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes chronic inflammation of the intestinal wall. While the cause of Crohn's is relatively unknown, it usually starts during the teenage years or early adulthood and is characterized by pain in the abdomen, diarrhea and weight loss. According to the most recent data from the National Health Interview Survey, there are more than two million prevalent cases of Crohn's disease in the United States.

According to results of the study from researchers at the University of Alberta, adding the bone-building drug etidronate (Ditronel) to calcium and vitamin D therapy to treat bone loss in people with Crohn's disease adds no additional benefit. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of etidronate on bone loss in patients with Crohn's disease, an effect that has never before been studied in patients who were not menopausal or on corticosteroid therapy.

"calcium and vitamin D therapy alone provide benefit to Crohn's patients who suffer from osteoporosis and osteopenia," said Richard Fedorak, MD, study author. "We encourage physicians to look for loss of bone density in high risk patients with Crohn's disease and to start calcium and vitamin D therapy immediately if there is either osteoporosis or osteopenia."

Prevention and treatment of low BMD associated with Crohn's disease includes vitamin D and calcium supplementation, education and lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and smoking cessation. Further randomized clinical trials are underway to determine if newer bone-building drugs will have additional beneficial effects on building bone mass in Crohn's patients. The results of those studies will not be available until next year. Until then, researchers suggest vitamin D and calcium supplementation as the primary treatment for bone loss in these patients.

"These results imply that physicians should only consider BMD testing and drug therapy for patients who are at higher risk for osteoporosis and fractures, not those who merely have Crohn's disease as a diagnosis," said Bernstein.

This article took from http://news.bio-medicine.org

Special Requirements During Cancer Treatment

2008-08-10T21:44:00.000-07:00

Calcium is an essential mineral for bone health and blood regulation. In general, requirements for calcium are not different for cancer patients. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has established Recommended Daily Intakes for calcium as well as other minerals and vitamins.

The Adequate Intake (AI) for calcium is:

* 1300 milligrams a day for adolescents
* 1000 milligrams a day for people between the ages of 19-50
* 1200 milligrams a day for people over 51 years of age.

The Upper Limit (UL) for calcium is 2500 milligrams a day. The average American intake of calcium is 650 milligrams a day. 1 cup of milk has 300 milligrams of calcium. It is recommended to consume 3 to 4 servings of dairy rich foods everyday or to take a calcium supplement.

A few groups of people have special calcium needs:

* Men with prostate cancer may want to limit their calcium intake and stay within the recommended parameters of 1000 to 1200 milligrams a day. Research is unclear at this time, but some studies show high calcium intake is associated with increased prostate cancer risk.
* Cancer patients taking the steroid Prednisone should increase their calcium intake due to the bone leaching effects of this medication. People taking Prednisone need at least 1500 milligrams of calcium a day.
* Women who have breast cancer and have undergone menopause should take at least 1200 milligrams of calcium daily to prevent early bone loss due to the lack of estrogen circulating in their bodies.

Regardless of a cancer diagnosis, calcium should be a regular part of your diet. Studies have suggested that eating a dairy-rich diet or taking calcium supplements, specifically calcium carbonate, may reduce the risk of colon cancer. While further investigation into the matter is necessary, the national Nurses' Health Study and Physicians' Health Study found that those who took 700 to 800 milligrams of calcium each day had a 40 to 50 percent decreased risk of developing colon cancer.

refference:

Dena McDowell, MS, RD from http://www.thedietchannel.com

Calcium Supplements May Interfere With Thyroid Treatment

2008-08-10T21:41:00.000-07:00

By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Health News

Most women now know that taking calcium is a cheap and easy way to protect against bone loss, but such supplementation may be tricky in those being treated for an underactive thyroid. Researchers report that calcium may interfere with the absorption of the most widely used therapy for this condition, and they raise a red flag that the two should not be taken together.

"Patients and their physicians need to be made aware that calcium can prevent the absorption of thyroxine" and this can be prevented by taking the two six to 12 hours apart, study author Jerome M. Hershman, MD, of the University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, tells WebMD. Harshman and colleagues reported their findings in the June 7 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"Patients typically take both at breakfast, with the thyroxine being taken on an empty stomach before eating and the calcium being taken after eating," Hershman says. "Based on our findings, this probably should not be done."

An expert on thyroid therapy who was not involved with this study says taking the two drugs hours apart probably couldn't hurt, but it is not clear from this study if it is necessary. "The authors have shown that there may be an interaction here, but more study is needed to definitively prove this," Stephen I Sherman, MD, tells WebMD. "I would like to have seen different kinds of studies." Sherman is the medical director of the Thyroid Society for Education and Research and is associate professor of medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

It has been estimated that up to one in 10 Americans have some degree of thyroid problems, although in many, the condition is never diagnosed. It is not known what percentage of people being treated with thyroxine also take calcium, but it is probably high. Underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, primarily occurs in women at or beyond the age of menopause -- the same group most at risk for osteoporosis or bone loss, and thus, most likely to take calcium supplements.

Hershman and colleagues examined the effect of calcium on thyroxine absorption in a group of 20 people being treated for underactive thyroid conditions. The levels of thyroxine in the women's blood were measured for several months prior to beginning calcium supplementation. Then the levels were retested during a three-month period while they were taking calcium and tested again several months after they stopped. All patients were told to take the calcium supplements daily at the same time that they took their thyroid medications.

The researchers saw a "modest, but significant" effect on thyroid function during the period patients took calcium. Four of the 20 patients had indications from blood tests that their medication wasn't getting into the blood. But these indicators returned to normal when the patients stopped taking calcium.

These findings and others, Harshman says, show that it is critical for thyroid patients to tell their physicians about all the medications they take. Prior studies have shown that other widely used therapies, such as aluminum hydroxide, found in various antacids; high-dose iron; and sucralfate, widely prescribed for gastrointestinal disorders, have a negative impact on the absorption of thyroxine.

Sherman, who conducted the sucralfate studies, agrees. He saw a "75 to 90%" rate of absorption problems in people taking thyroxine and sucralfate at the same time. "Obviously, this induced significant hypothyroidism. But because this is a drug that patients are prescribed, it is not likely a clinician won't know about its use," Sherman says. "In the case of aluminum hydroxide, high-dose iron, and now calcium, patients may not think to tell their physicians they are taking them. Physicians need to ask their patients about over-the-counter medications."
Vital Information:

* Up to one-tenth of all Americans have some degree of thyroid problems, and an underactive thyroid primarily affects postmenopausal women, who also are at higher risk for osteoporosis.
* Many of these women take calcium supplements to protect against bone loss. This can cause the medication known as thyroxine, which is widely prescribed to treat an underactive thyroid, to have problems getting into the bloodstream. This can cause thyroxine to be less effective.
* Patients can take these two drugs six to 12 hours apart, instead of together, to prevent interference, and everyone should always inform their doctor of all medications and supplements they are taking.

Better Stroke Outcome with High Blood Calcium

2008-08-10T21:36:00.000-07:00

Higher levels of calcium in the blood are associated with less severe stroke and better outcome, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology 58th Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif., April 1 – 8, 2006.

Calcium and magnesium are intricately involved in the pathways of cell death in models of stroke, and high dietary intake of these minerals has been associated with a reduced risk of experiencing a stroke according to lead scientist Bruce Ovbiagele, MD, of the Stroke Center and Department of Neurology at the University of California, Los Angeles. This association led Ovbiagele to ask whether levels of serum calcium and magnesium might predict the severity and outcome in patients presenting with a stroke.

Ovbiagele’s group studied 240 consecutive patients who were seen at the UCLA Stroke Center within 24 hours of their stroke. Patients were classified into four groups, based on the level of calcium and magnesium in their blood. Researchers measured stroke severity at the time that patients were admitted into the hospital and how well they functioned upon being discharged.

The findings indicated that while there was no correlation with magnesium, higher calcium was strongly related to both lesser severity at admission and better outcome at the time patients left the hospital. Patients with the highest calcium levels had strokes only one-third as severe as those with the lowest level, and were 50 to 70 percent less likely to have a poor functional outcome.

The results remained significant after correcting for a wide variety of other factors known to influence stroke risk and severity, including age, prior use of anti-stroke drugs, and type of stroke.

“These results suggest a connection between high calcium in the blood and reduced cell death from stroke,” said Ovbiagele. “However, it is not yet known whether modifying dietary calcium in people at risk for stroke may help protect against poor stroke outcome.”

by: http://www.naturalnews.com

High intake of calcium can reduce stroke risk

2008-08-10T21:34:00.000-07:00

CALCIUM intake may reduce the risk of stroke by as much as 30 per cent, according to new research from Japan. More than 40,000 middle-aged people were surveyed on their dairy consumption.

Researchers found a reduced risk of stroke and heart failure among those with an higher calcium intake.Dr Carole Lowis, consultant nutritionist with the dairy council for Northern Ireland said the results added to research from other parts of the world.

“We do not fully understand why those with the highest dairy calcium intakes were betterprotected against the risk of stroke in this study but one explanation could be the beneficial effect of calcium and dairy foods on blood pressure,” Dr Lowis said.

High blood pressure is a risk factor for both stroke and heart disease.

Consuming at least three servings of low-fat dairy foods a day has been shown to help to lower blood pressure.This effect is thought to be partly due to the calcium in dairy foods but also to the other nutrients they contain such as potassium and
magnesium.

Dr Lowis encouraged people to drink more milk, which is high in calcium.“Calcium is also easily absorbed from dairy products,” she said.“For example, although spinach is relatively rich in calcium, you would need to eat 11 servings to absorb as much calcium as you could from a single glass of milk.”

- The Japanese study was published in the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke

Calcium supplements and heart attack risk

2008-08-10T21:30:00.000-07:00

by Dr Norman Swan

New Zealand research has found that older women taking calcium to protect their bones had a higher risk of heart attack.

ust as women are starting to recover from all the bad publicity over drugs for osteoporosis, New Zealand research has questioned calcium supplements, reporting that older women taking calcium to protect their bones had a significantly higher risk of having a heart attack.

It was a randomised trial of calcium supplements versus placebo in 1400 older women – average age 74 – to prevent bone loss and fractures.

While the calcium benefited the bones, the heart attack rate was up to 40 per cent higher, which meant that over five years up to 16 additional women had a heart attack, stroke or sudden death associated with taking calcium. Stroke risk on its own wasn't significantly raised.

The researchers think the finding is real because other studies have gone in the same direction, but it does need to be verified. No-one is sure about calcium supplements in younger women.

So what should women do?

The advice from the New Zealanders is that calcium in whole food is good because it is associated with lower rates of heart disease – you don't get the big hit of a tablet surging into your bloodstream.

They also think the dose in their study – a gram a day – was too high, and lower doses are safer.

Calcium deposits don't predict stroke risk

2008-08-10T21:28:00.000-07:00

Canadian doctors are questioning the notion that calcium deposits in the carotid arteries of the neck -- measured using an X-ray technique called computed tomography(CT)scanning -- indicate an increased risk of stroke.

A number of studies have suggested a link between calcium buildup in the heart's arteries and an increased risk of heart attacks, leading to the belief that a similar association might hold between calcification of the carotid arteries and the risk of stroke. Companies in the United States are even offering screening for calcification of the carotid arteries.

But a study by led by Dr. Allan Fox of the University of Toronto shows these services are jumping the gun. They looked at neck and brain CT scans of 221 people and assessed the degree of carotid calcification and changes in the brain's white matter, which have been associated with an increased stroke risk.

Older people had more calcium buildup and white matter change, but there was no association between the degree of carotid calcification and the amount of white matter change.

"Can we use calcification in the carotid arteries as something to do with stroke disease? The particular thing we looked at showed no evidence for an association," Fox says. "This is one of those things that gets going because it sounds logical in a lay sense and people sell services. I would hope people would look at results like this and continue to be skeptical."

Another recent study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore also suggests calcification of the carotid arteries has no relationship to stroke. They looked at CT scans of 74 patients who had a stroke and 94 healthy people of the same ages. Carotid artery calcification did not differ between the two groups.

this article took from http://www.macleans.ca

Clue to Stroke Brain Cell Deaths

2008-08-10T21:19:00.000-07:00

Scientists say they have discovered the exact mechanism behind the death of brain cells following a stroke.

The main culprit is an overload of charged calcium particles or ions, they told the journal Cell.

As the brain is starved of oxygen by reduced blood flow, events occur that cause dangerously high levels of calcium ions within the brain cells.

The Medical Research Council team believes correcting the calcium imbalance could help treat strokes.

Overload

Scientists have suspected for some time that calcium was the culprit.

But research had mainly concentrated on trying to block the entry of calcium ions into dying nerve cells.

The latest study suggests that the main problem is actually a fault in the mechanism that removes calcium ions from the nerve cells.

Professor Pierluigi Nicotera and colleagues at the MRC's toxicology unit in Leicester looked at what was happening in the brains of rats when these animals suffered a stroke.

The drugs conceived so far have failed in clinical trials because they only block the entry of calcium
Lead researcher Professor Pierluigi Nicotera

When the blood flow to the brain was abruptly stopped, as occurs with a stroke, the nerve cells deprived of oxygen released chemicals that they use to communicate with each other.

One of these, called glutamate, causes more widespread damage by triggering a flood of calcium ions into the affected and neighbouring nerve cells.

This calcium influx then activates enzymes called calpains, which break down a protein in the nerve cell's outer membrane that would normally pump calcium out of the cell.

Treatment avenues

The result of these two insults is dangerously high calcium levels which kill off the neurons.

This could explain why stroke therapies aimed solely at decreasing calcium entry into nerve cells have been unsuccessful, said Professor Nicotera.

He said his team were currently testing different molecules that might help nerve cells to remove the excess calcium.

"But it will be some years before we have new drugs," he said.

A spokeswoman from the Stroke Association said: "This could help to fully determine the exact mechanism behind the death of nerve cells in the brain that happens when blood supply to this area is blocked, such as in the case of a stroke.

"However, this research is only at initial stages and further work in this field is needed to fully determine whether this will lead to more effective treatments for stroke, which specifically address this mechanism."

This article took from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4207041.stm

Calcium: it's not just bones anymore!

2008-08-10T21:04:00.000-07:00

Most of us know that calcium's main role in the body is to build strong and healthy teeth and bones. However, current research is showing that as calcium intake goes up, both body weight and body fat go down. Could Calcium be the breakthrough weight loss miracle we are looking for?

How may Calcium affect body weight and fat?

* Higher levels of Calcium intake may prevent fat storage.
* More Calcium may raise metabolism, thus burning more calories.

How much is enough?

* One of the studies showed more weight loss in individuals consuming 1200 mg per day along with a low calorie diet.
* You should strive for the minimum recommended 1000 mg per day from low or non-fat dairy foods.

Are supplements as good as food sources?

* Researcher showed that Calcium supplements did enhance the effect of weight loss, however, there was more weight loss when Calcium came from low or non-fat dairy sources.

What can I do to get more Calcium?

* Start your day with a Calcium fortified cereal, topped with skim milk and almonds.
* Snack on low-fat string cheese or low-fat fruited yogurt.
* Top pancakes or waffles with low-fat yogurt and sliced fresh fruit instead of syrup.
* For dessert, try instant pudding made with skim milk.
* Add Calcium fortified fruit juices to your meals instead of soda.
* Top a sandwhich with a slice of reduced-fat cheese.
* Mix up a fruit smoothy with low-fat frozen yogurt and skim milk.
* If milk is a problem, look for Calcium fortified soy milk and tofu.
* Add steamed brocolli to a salad and blackeyed peas.
* Use nuts, such as almonds, as snacks or to add a crunchy tecture to foods.

Refference:
http://irweb.swmed.edu/chn/naa/tipsheets/ca_wtloss.htm

Calcium: The "Miracle" Mineral

2008-08-10T21:02:00.000-07:00

By Annette Kornblum

For years, women have been told to bone up on calcium to prevent osteoporosis, a gradual thinning of the bones, but now this so-called miracle mineral is also being touted for its potential to promote weight loss, relieve depression and anxiety associated with premenstrual syndrome, control high blood pressure, and ward off strokes.

As new evidence points to the elevated role of calcium in preventing disease, it makes sense to get enough of this vital nutrient each day, especially as mid-life approaches. Experts say there is literally no body system that doesn't benefit from a healthy dose. Here's how it stacks up:

Calcium and Weight Loss:
When Dr. Robert Heaney, a calcium expert at Creighton University in Omaha, recently examined the health records of 575 women, he was astonished at the results. "We were looking at mid-life weight gain and found that women with the highest calcium intakes didn't gain weight and those with the lowest did," Dr. Heaney said.

Similarly, at the University of Tennessee, Michael Zemel, Ph.D., reported that because calcium plays a key role in metabolic disorders linked to obesity and insulin resistance, a diet low in calcium literally stockpiles fat cells while higher calcium diets depletes them. Dr. Zemel discovered that a high calcium diet released a hormone which sends signals that are read by the body's fat cells to lose weight.

A two-year Purdue University study in West Lafayette, Ind. that involved 54 women ages 18 to 31, found that women with a daily intake of at least 780 milligrams of calcium showed no increase in body fat or lost body fat mass during a two-year period. Women who averaged less than 780 milligrams of calcium gained weight during the same period.

Both exercisers and couch potatoes seemed to benefit unless they consumed more than 1,900 calories daily. All researchers said that dining on calcium-rich dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt achieved greater weight loss than leafy green vegetables, nuts, beans and supplements.

Calcium and Premenstrual Syndrome:
Susan Thys-Jacobs, an endocrinologist at St. Luke-Roosevelt Hospital's, has found that calcium supplementation can relieve the physical and emotional toll of PMS by almost 50%. At least half of the 497 women she studied who took 1,200 mg. of calcium supplements experienced fewer mood swings, depression/sadness, anxiety/nervousness; breast tenderness, bloating and other aches and pains. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Research Center in Grand Forks, N.D. reported similar results after studying 10 women with PMS who spent half the study period on a daily diet containing 600 mg. of calcium, the other half upped to1300 mg. Women on the high calcium diet were less irritable, weepy, and depressed and averted backaches, cramping, and bloating.

Calcium and Blood Pressure:
In some people, an increase in calcium consumption can help control blood pressure without anti-hypertensive medication. A 13-year study by James Dwyer at the University of Southern California School of Medicine found that consuming 1300 milligrams of calcium a day reduced hypertension risk by 12 percent compared to only 300 mg. a day, while subjects under age 40 reduced their risk by up to 25 percent. Dr. Lawrence Resnick, a professor of medicine at Cornell University Medical Center Hypertension Center, emphasizes that the benefits are most pronounced in hypertensives who are salt-sensitive, such as African Americans.

Calcium and Cholesterol:
Dr. Margo Denke, associate professor of internal medicine at the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas found that a high-calcium regimen reduced levels of total cholesterol by six percent and slashed "bad" LDL cholesterol by 11 percent. So-called "good" HDL cholesterol levels remained unchanged.

Calcium and Stroke Prevention:
A 1999 Harvard study reported that calcium supplementation protects against stroke in middle-aged women. In the ongoing Nurses' Health Study, 85,764 women, ages 35 to 59, reported that the mineral was tied to a 32% lower risk of stroke among those with the highest intake of the mineral. Women taking at least 400 mg of calcium supplements had a 12% lower risk of ischemic stroke (the type caused by plaque buildup in blood vessel walls). Dietary calcium, especially in dairy foods, reportedly reduced stroke risk, as did potassium.

Calcium and Osteoporosis:
Osteoporosis strikes more than seven million Americans, mostly women, with another 17 million at serious risk of developing fragile bones that easily collapse, a crippling curving of the spine, and hip fractures. Research shows that boosting calcium intake can halt bone loss, especially when combined with vitamin D, which enhances its absorption.

Calcium and Colon Cancer:
Calcium may protect against growths that become malignant in those prone to colorectal cancer. Dr. Martin Lipkin, a professor of medicine at Cornell University, who first discovered the link between calcium and colorectal cancer, stresses that both calcium-rich foods and calcium supplements will produce the same beneficial effects.

Calcium and Pregnancy:
According to Barbara Levine, director of the human nutrition program at the Rockefeller University, calcium supplements can help ensure the health of the fetus and improve bone mass of the mother. In a study of hypertensive women, Levine found that adequate calcium levels and Vitamin D improved pregnancy outcomes.

Calcium Weight Loss Plan - Does Calcium Weight Loss Plan Really Work?

2008-08-10T20:44:00.001-07:00

Calcium is not only important for bones and teeth but it also helps in fighting against many diseases and serious health conditions. Assisting in weight loss is one of the many benefits of this wondrous mineral. Recently people who have used calcium for weight loss have reported back that calcium weight loss plan does work well.

Calcium obtained from dairy sources contains too much fat content and a lot of calories. Other sources of calcium may not provide adequate amounts of calcium needed on a daily basis. The best solution is to make a calcium weight loss plan by introducing calcium-rich tablets or supplements to your everyday diet.

These calcium tablets not only help to fulfill daily calcium needs but also assist in losing weight. Calcium carbonate or coral calcium are the most effective sources of calcium and they are readily absorbed by the bloodstream when consumed after meals. Coral calcium is known to reduce acidity and helps in proper digestion of food.

You may want to make a calcium weight loss plan by introducing 6 meals a day and consuming calcium tablets after at least 3 well-balanced meals. A healthy person requires up to 1000 mg of calcium daily. Teenagers should consume up to 1200 mg, while postmenopausal women should consume up to 1500 mg of calcium on a daily basis. Make a chart of healthy, low-fat foods, count the calories and also note down the amount of calcium you consume through nutritional supplements.

Weight loss occurs slowly and gradually so you need to be very patient to see positive results. Follow your calcium weight loss plan for at least 2-3 months. During this period you will be able to see the effectiveness of a 6-meals diet along with a good dose of calcium tablets. Read the instructions on the bottle of your supplement product carefully to see how many milligrams of calcium a single tablet provides.

Liquid calcium supplements are equally effective in controlling sudden weight gain. People who are thin and have a small bone structure also need adequate amounts of calcium daily. They should obtain this calcium from milk, other dairy products, green vegetables, fresh fruits, beans, nuts and fish. In addition to these, good-quality calcium supplements can also be used to fulfill daily calcium needs.

Don’t forget to find the supplements that contain some other nutrients as well in addition to calcium. These nutrients help in proper absorption of calcium and also provide many long-term health benefits.

For optimal bone and joint health, we have been using a special natural calcium formula and for good reason, this formula is known as Bone Protect. We have personally been using this formula for over 3 years with excellent health results.

You can learn more about our product of choice and why we use this product above all other calcium formulas at optimal bone health

John Gibb is the manager of a series health websites. His latest addition discusses the calcium formula himself and the editors consume. For more information on calcium, coral calcium, and bone health as a whole, be sure to check out http://www.optimal-bone-health.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Gibb

Calcium Intake May Protect Against Bone Loss During Moderate Weight Loss

2008-08-10T20:34:00.000-07:00

News Author: Laurie Barclay, MD
CME Author: Désirée Lie, MD, MSEd

Release Date: April 11, 2007; Reviewed and Renewed: April 16, 2008

Healthy, overweight, premenopausal women had no bone loss with moderate weight reduction if they consumed 1 or 1.8 g/day of calcium, according to the results of a study reported in the April issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

"Weight loss is associated with bone loss, but this has not been examined in overweight premenopausal women," write Claudia S. Riedt, from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and colleagues. "Compared with obese persons, overweight persons may be more susceptible to bone loss due to reduced weight bearing, diminished extraovarial estrogen synthesis due to smaller fat depots, and reduced calcium intake due to lower energy requirements, especially during dieting.... Our aims were to examine bone turnover and mass in overweight premenopausal women with weight reduction at recommended or high calcium intakes and to determine the role of calcium absorption and hormonal regulators."

In the current study, 44 overweight premenopausal women were randomized to either normal (1 g/day) or high (1.8 g/day) calcium intake during 6 months of energy restriction (weight loss groups) or were recruited for weight maintenance with calcium intake of 1 g/day. Mean age was 38 ± 6.4 years, and mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.7 ± 2.1 kg/m2.

Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry measured regional bone mineral density (BMD) and content. A dual-stable calcium isotope method measured true fractional calcium absorption at baseline and during caloric restriction. Markers of bone turnover were measured before and after weight loss.

The weight loss groups lost 7.2% ± 3.3% of initial body weight. There was no significant decrease in BMD or rise in bone turnover with weight loss at normal or high calcium intake. In the group with high calcium intake, there was a strong correlation (r = 0.71) between increased femoral neck BMD and increased serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D. There was no significant effect of weight loss on true fractional calcium absorption, and the total calcium absorbed was adequate (238 ± 81 mg/day in the normal-calcium weight loss group, and 310 ± 91 mg/day in the high-calcium weight loss group).

Study limitations include concerns about the validity of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry measurements in heavier people and in weight loss studies.

"We showed that dieting overweight premenopausal women do not lose bone with intakes of 1.0 or 1.8 g Ca/d, which may be explained by sufficient amounts of absorbed calcium," the authors conclude. "Furthermore, bone turnover was not up-regulated, and the calcium-PTH [parathyroid hormone] axis was not significantly increased because of weight loss. We suggest that overweight premenopausal women do not lose bone with moderate weight loss when consuming the recommended intake for calcium."

The National Institutes of Health supported this study. The authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Calcium & Weight Loss

2008-08-10T20:27:00.000-07:00

High Calcium Intake - Increases Weight Loss

Researchers at the CU-Health Sciences Center's Center for Human Nutrition reported recently that calcium may help control body weight, confirming findings from other studies. The report, published in February's International Journal of Obesity, is the first study in humans to demonstrate a mechanistic link between calcium intake and body weight.

More Calcium Helps Burn Body Fat

Edward Melanson, PhD, and James Hill, PhD, examined diet data from 35 healthy, non-obese adults during a 24-hour period and measured their daily energy expenditures. They found that those individuals who consumed more calcium used more fat as fuel compared to those with lower calcium intakes.

The idea that calcium intake may be related to body weight has been supported by several studies in the past decade. Studies in rats and mice suggest that higher calcium intake alters the metabolism of fat cells, causing less fat to be stored and more fat to be released. Whether this also occurs in humans was not known.
Correlation Between Calcium and Fat Loss

The new report suggests calcium also may help control body weight in humans by increasing the amount of fat that the body uses for fuel. "It is encouraging to find that there is a correlation between the amount of fat used and the amount of calcium consumed," Dr. Melanson said.

He cautioned, however, that more research is needed in humans before any firm conclusions can be made about calcium's effect on body weight or whether increasing calcium intake without changing other aspects of the diet actually increases the amount of fat used.

"The current RDA is 1,000 milligrams a day, and this RDA is a little higher for adolescents, young adults and pregnant or lactating women," Dr. Melanson said. "A glass of milk, a cup of yogurt, or a serving of cheese contains approximately 300 milligrams, so three servings of dairy per day should be a good goal."

According to Dr. Melanson, the average American typically consumes only 600- 700 milligrams of calcium per day, and many are well below that level.

Refference:

http://www.annecollins.com/weight-control/calcium-weight-loss.htm

PMS and Calcium

2008-08-10T20:11:00.000-07:00

Calcium, A PMS Treatment

Recent clinical studies have concluded Premenstrual Syndrome may be caused by a calcium deficiency! Calcium is the most common mineral in your body, yet most do not consume the recommended amount for their age and sex. Most adults require 1000 mg daily, yet research shows the average American only gets 600 mg from their diet. About half of dietary calcium comes from dairy products so if you avoid dairy you are almost certainly calcium deficient unless you supplement.

Calcium is called “the king of minerals” for good reason. Most people think of calcium for supporting strong bones and teeth. Actually, the bones are the least of your worries if you are low on calcium. It is needed for many more important functions than supporting your frame such as heart function, muscle contraction, transmission of nerve impulses, blood clotting, regulating your metabolism, regulating hormones, and more. Recent research points to calcium deficiency as being a possible cause of hypertension (high blood pressure) and of colon cancer.

In other words, it is not a big stretch to think that calcium may be involved in the irritability, mood swings, pain and cramps associated with PMS. We have an excellent tool for assessing your calcium needs on this website. Check your daily dietary calcium levels with our free bone health calculator.

You will find the clinical study summary below very helpful.

Calcium and the premenstrual syndrome
Hys-Jacobs S, Starkey P, Bernstein D, Tian J.

St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York 10019, USA.

OBJECTIVE: Previous reports have suggested that disturbances in calcium regulation may underlie the pathophysiologic characteristics of premenstrual syndrome and that calcium supplementation may be an effective therapeutic approach. To evaluate the effect of calcium carbonate on the luteal and menstrual phases of the menstrual cycle in premenstrual syndrome, a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter clinical trial was conducted.

STUDY DESIGN: Healthy, premenopausal women between the ages of 18 and 45 years were recruited nationally across the United States at 12 outpatient centers and screened for moderate-to-severe, cyclically recurring premenstrual symptoms. Symptoms were prospectively documented over 2 menstrual cycles with a daily rating scale that had 17 core symptoms and 4 symptom factors (negative affect, water retention, food cravings, and pain). Participants were randomly assigned to receive 1200 mg of elemental calcium per day in the form of calcium carbonate or placebo for 3 menstrual cycles. Routine chemistry, complete blood cell count, and urinalysis were obtained on all participants. Daily documentation of symptoms, adverse effects, and compliance with medications were monitored. The primary outcome measure was the 17-parameter symptom complex score.

RESULTS: Seven hundred twenty women were screened for this trial; 497 women were enrolled; 466 were valid for the efficacy analysis. There was no difference in age, weight, height, use of oral contraceptives, or menstrual cycle length between treatment groups. There were no differences between groups in the mean screening symptom complex score of the luteal (P = .659), menstrual (P = .818), or intermenstrual phase (P = .726) of the menstrual cycle. During the luteal phase of the treatment cycle, a significantly lower mean symptom complex score was observed in the calcium-treated group for both the second (P = .007) and third (P < .001) treatment cycles. By the third treatment cycle calcium effectively resulted in an overall 48% reduction in total symptom scores from baseline compared with a 30% reduction in placebo. All 4 symptom factors were significantly reduced by the third treatment cycle.

CONCLUSIONS: Calcium supplementation is a simple and effective treatment in premenstrual syndrome, resulting in a major reduction in overall luteal phase symptoms.

Calcium: Heart Risk for Older Women?

2008-08-10T01:57:00.000-07:00

By Kathleen Doheny
WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Study Shows Calcium Supplements May Up Heart Attack Risk in Postmenopausal Women

Jan.15 2008 -- Calcium supplements, generally thought to preserve both bone and heart health, may boost the risk of heart disease in healthy postmenopausal women, according to New Zealand researchers.

"Loading with high doses of calcium reduces bone loss but at a cost in heart health that is not justified," says researcher Ian Reid, MD, professor of medicine and endocrinology at the University of Auckland.

But a U.S. expert on calcium supplementation says the findings may be a fluke and at this time don't warrant any change in the recommendation to get sufficient calcium through diet and supplements.

Calcium, Heart Attack Study Details
Reid and his colleagues followed 1,471 healthy postmenopausal women, ages 55 and above, assigning half to get a daily calcium supplement of 1,000 milligrams and half to placebo pills. The average age in both groups was 74.

Calcium supplements are typically prescribed to women after menopause to preserve bone health, and some studies suggest it might also protect heart health by improving the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol.

The New Zealand researchers initially conducted the study to look at the effect of calcium on bone health, says Reid, who has received research support from calcium supplement manufacturers. This study is what is known as a secondary analysis. Researchers evaluated the women's calcium intake from diet and examined them every six months for five years, looking for reports of heart attack, stroke, or sudden death.

The women in the supplement group got 861 milligrams of calcium from diet per day, on average, boosting their total daily intake to 1,861. The placebo group averaged about 853 milligrams of calcium daily from their diet.

(Has your doctor talked to you about heart risks? Talk with others on WebMD's Bone Health and Osteoporosis message board.)

Calcium, Heart Attack Results
To obtain a more complete picture, the researchers also looked for events not reported at the visits by checking hospital admissions and reviewing death certificates of those who had died.

Heart attacks were more common in the calcium group, with 31 women on supplements having 36 heart attacks compared to 21 women on placebo having 22 heart attacks during the follow-up period.

The risk of a heart attack was about 1.5 times greater for those in the supplement group, but the link did not reach statistical significance.

Considered together, strokes, heart attack, or sudden death were more common in those on supplements than on placebo, but the differences -- when taken as a whole -- were statistically only of borderline significance, Reid's team found.

The researchers took into account such factors as cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, and blood pressure problems.

Calcium, Heart Attack: What's the Mechanism?
Reid cautions that the findings must be replicated and plans to do more research on the proposed link.

But he speculates that the calcium supplements may elevate blood calcium levels and possibly speed calcification in blood vessels, which is known to predict the rates of vascular problems such as heart attack.

Second Opinion: Calcium, Heart Attacks
The link between calcium supplements and heart attack suggested by the New Zealand team "seems implausible," says Robert P. Heaney, MD, John A. Creighton University professor at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., and a long-time researcher of calcium's effect on health.

Typically, Heaney tells WebMD, "Extra calcium doesn't build up in your arteries. The body regulates the blood concentration of calcium.'' Only in people who have lost the ability to regulate calcium levels could the blood concentration of calcium increase, he says, and this condition is rare.

Calcium and Heart Health Advice
Women should keep taking the recommended amounts of calcium, Heaney says. "Postmenopausal women should be getting 1,500 milligrams [a day] through diet and supplements," he says.

The levels recommended by the Institute of Medicine are a bit lower: 1,200 milligrams of calcium for men and women ages 51 and older, and 1,000 milligrams for those 19 to 50.

"Even if it turns out this [proposed link between calcium supplements and heart attacks] is true and replicated [with further research] you have to weigh that against fracture protection," Heaney says of calcium supplements.

Reid disagrees, suggesting women over the age of 70 and some others should rethink calcium supplements.

"It is likely that this is primarily a problem for elderly women because they are more likely than younger subjects to have prevalent coronary heart disease," he tells WebMD. "Therefore it seems wise to advise against [high amounts of] calcium supplementation in those over the age of 70 years and in those known to have coronary heart disease. Aiming at a total calcium intake of approximately 1 gram [1,000 milligrams] a day [equivalent to four servings of dairy products] seems sensible in these subjects."

For instance, a woman who took in 500 milligrams of calcium from foods should take no more than 500 milligrams in supplements daily, he says.

Younger women can continue supplementing without worry, he says. "At present, there is no evidence of adverse cardiovascular effects of calcium supplementation in younger women, so the conventional use of calcium supplements seems reasonable in these subjects."

CALCIUM vs. CANCER

2008-08-09T23:47:00.000-07:00

In 1932 Otto Warburg won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his discovery that cancer was anaerobic: cancer occurs in the absence of free oxygen. As innocuous as this discovery might seem, it is actually a startling and significant finding worthy of a Nobel Prize. What it basically means is that cancer is caused by a lack of free oxygen in the body and therefore, whatever causes this to occur is the cause of all cancers.
In chemistry, alkali solutions (pH over 7.0) tend to absorb oxygen, while acids (pH under 7.0)tend to expel oxygen. For example, a mild alkali can absorb over 100 times as much oxygen as a mild acid. Therefore, when the body becomes acidic by dropping below pH 7.0 (note:all body fluids, except for stomach and urine, are supposed to be mildly alkaline at pH 7.4), oxygen isdriven out of the body thereby, according to Nobel Prize winner Otto Warburg,inducing cancer. Stomach fluids must remain acidic to digest food and urine must remain acidic to remove wastes from the body. Blood is the exception. Blood must always remain at an alkaline pH 7.4 so that it can retain its oxygen. When adequate mineral consumption is in the diet, the blood is supplied the crucial minerals required to maintain an alkaline pH of 7.4. However when insufficient mineral consumption is in the diet, the body is forced to rob Peter (other body fluids) to pay Paul (the blood). In doing so, it removes crucial minerals, such as calcium, from the saliva, spinal fluids, kidneys, liver, etc., in order to maintain the blood at pH 7.4. This causes the de-mineralized fluids and organs to become acidic and therefore anaerobic, thus inducing not only cancer, but a host of other degenerative diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, lupus, etc..

Everyone knows that the human body is made up of 78% water by weight, and that water is hydrogen and oxygen gases. When nitrogen gas and carbon in the form of carbon dioxide and methane gases are added, the total gas in the body by weight becomes over 95%. Almost half of the remaining 5% that makes up the human body and controls all biological functions is the mineral calcium.

No other mineral is capable of performing as many biological functions as is calcium. Calcium is involved in almost every biological function. This amazing mineral provides the electrical energy for the heart to beat and for all muscle movement. It is the calcium ion that is responsible for feeding every cell. It does this by latching on to seven nutrient molecules and one water molecule and pulls them through the nutrient channel. It then detaches its load and returns to repeat the process. Another important biological job for calcium is DNA replication, which is crucial for maintaining youth and a healthy body. DNA replication is the basis for all body repair and can only occur “on a substrate of calcium”. Thus, low calcium means low body repair and premature aging. As important as all these and hundreds of other biological functions of calcium are to human health, none is more important than the job of pH control. Calcium to acid, is like water to a fire. Calcium quickly destroys oxygen robbing acid in the body fluids. Thus, the more calcium, the more oxygen, and therefore, the less cancer and other degenerative disease.

This information then begs the question, “How much calcium is necessary ?” The answer can readily be determined by examining the diet of millions of people around the world who consume over 100 times our Recommended Daily Allowance, RDA, and who suffer the side effects of living 40 years longer than we do, of aging at half the rate that we do, and of being devoid of cancer, heart disease, mental disorders, diabetes, arthritis and all other degenerative diseases. Almost all of these people, the Armenians, Azerbaijans and Georgians in Russian, the Tibetans, the Hunzas of Northern Pakistan, the Vilcabamba Indians in Ecuador, the Bamas in China and the Titicacas in Peru live at high altitudes above 8000 feet. Their only source of water is melting glaciers, and the glacial water is so turbid and white with ground up rock that all of these cultures call the water “milk of the mountains”. Each quart of this water contains over 17,000 milligrams of calcium along with other minerals and 60 trace metals. These cultures drink several quarts each day and the water fertilized crops are also loaded with calcium and other nutrients. The only long living and disease free culture that does not live above an altitude of 8000feet, is the Okinawan’s.

Millions of Okinawans live in the southern coral islands of Japan with the average life expectancy of 105 years,while mainland Japan is just 77 years. The Okinawans live on islands made of coral reefs which are mainly calcium. The Okinawans discovered over 500 years ago that feeding coral sand that is produced from the weathering of the reefs to the chickens and cows results in twice as many eggs and twice as much milk. They also found that when the coral sand is used as a fertilizer, crops increase by as much as three fold. When they finally, 500 years ago, began to consume the coral sand themselves, all of the under utilized doctors were forced to leave the islands. This was known in Japanese history as the Japanese Exodus.

The early European explorers discovered their secret and hauled shiploads of the calcium rich coral sands back to Europe. In Madrid Spain,the historic monument of the world’s first drugstore contains rows of shelves labeled “coral calcium from Okinawa Japan”. Today millions of people all over the world consume coral calcium, and as a result, there are millions of medical testimonials.

The phenomenon of preventing and reversing degenerative disease through the consumption of large amounts of mineral and vitamins did not go un-noticed by men of medicine. Hundreds of years ago European doctors were prescribing coral calcium and other nutrients to their patients.

In the 1950s, Dr. Carl Reich M.D. discovered that his patients were able to “cure themselves” of almost all degenerative diseases by consuming several times the RDA of calcium, magnesium, vitamin-D and other nutrients. Dr. Reich was the first North American doctor to prescribe “mega doses” of minerals and vitamins to his patients and is considered by many to be the father of preventive medicine. By the 1980s Dr. Reich had cured thousands, but lost his license for explaining that the consumption of mineral nutrients, such as calcium, could prevent cancer and a host of other diseases. This concept was considered “too simple” to accept by the medical wisdom of the day. However, by the late 1990s, other medical men of wisdom were also discovering that calcium supplements could indeed reverse cancer.

In the October 13, 1998 issue of the New York Times an article appeared entitled “Calcium Takes Its Place As a Superstar of Nutrients” in which it reports that a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that“increasing calcium induced normal development of the epithelia cells and might also prevent cancer in such organs as the breast, prostate and pancreas”. It also reported that the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published “virtually no major organ system escapes calcium’s influence” and that a research team from the University of Southern California found “adding calcium to the diet lowered the blood pressure in 110 black teenagers”

The January 14, 1999 issue of the Phoenix Republic wrote in an article entitled “Calcium Reduces Tumors”that the New England Journal of Medicine reported “adding calcium to the diet can keep you from getting tumors in your large intestine”. Then the February, 1999 issue of the Readers Digestwrote in an article entitled “The ‘Superstar’ Nutrient” that the Journal of the American Medical published “when the participants consumption reached 1500 milligrams of calcium a day, cell growth in the colon improved toward normal (this means that the cancer was reversed)”. The Digest also reported that the Metabolic Bone Center at St. Lukes Hospital believes that “achronic deficiency of calcium is largely responsible for premenstrual syndrome(PMS)” and that “a lot of women are avoiding the sun and their vitamin-D levels may be very low”. In the same article, the Digest reported that “in 1997 the large federally financed trial found that a diet containing 1200 milligrams of calcium significantly lowered blood pressure in adults”. Then the May 3, 1999 edition of US WorldNews Report wrote in an article entitled “Calcium’s Powerful Mysterious Ways”, that,“Researchers are increasingly finding that the humble mineral calcium plays a major role in warding off major illnesses from high blood pressure to colon cancer” and that “You name the disease, and calcium is beginning to have a place there” (DavidMcCarron, a nephrologist at Oregon Health Sciences University). Unfortunately, most doctors have not heard the news that their own journals and major newspapers and magazines are reporting that natural supplements, especially calcium, can cure and prevent disease.

Source:
http://www.advancedscientifichealth.com/pweb.asp?SID=554893

Calcium in the body

2008-08-08T01:39:00.000-07:00

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body and one of the most important. The calcium topic is huge and complex; let me try to make it concise and simple. This mineral constitutes about 1.5-2.0 percent of our body weight. Almost all (98 percent) of our approximately three pounds of calcium is contained in our bones, about 1 percent in our teeth, and the rest in the other tissues and the circulation.
Calcium and magnesium are the "earth alkali" minerals found in the earth's crust, usually as salts that are fairly insoluble. (The word calcium comes from the Latin calc, meaning "lime," as in limestone, a calcium carbonate substance.) Dolomite, a calcium-magnesium earth mineral combination that is a little more soluble and usable by the body than some other forms, is a commonly used calcium supplement.

Many other nutrients, vitamin D, and certain hormones are important to calcium absorption, function, and metabolism. Phosphorus as well as calcium is needed for normal bones, as are magnesium, silicon, strontium, boron possibly, and the protein matrix-all part of our bone structure. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus in our bones is about 2.5:1; the best proportions of these minerals in our diet for proper metabolism are currently under question.

Calcium works with magnesium in its functions in the blood, nerves, muscles, and tissues, particularly in regulating heart and muscle contraction and nerve conduction. Vitamin D is needed for much calcium (and phosphorus) to be absorbed from the digestive tract. Along with parathyroid hormone and calcitonin secreted by the thyroid, vitamin D helps maintain normal blood calcium levels.

Maintaining a balanced blood calcium level is essential to life, especially for cardiac function. A normal blood calcium level is about 10 mg. percent-that is, about 10 mg. per 100 milliliters (ml.) of blood. Of that, approximately 5.5 mg. are in ionic form as Ca++, about 4 mg. are bound to carrier proteins, and about 0.5 mg. is combined with phosphate or citrate. If there is not enough calcium in the diet to maintain sufficient amounts of calcium in the blood, the parathyroid glands will be activated to release more parathyroid hormone (PTH), which will then draw calcium out of the bones as well as increase intestinal absorption of available calcium. So even though most of our body's calcium is in the bones, the blood and cellular concentrations of this mineral are maintained first. This is why, with nearly 30 percent of people in this country eating calcium-deficient diets, osteoporosis (a loss of bone substance) is so prevalent.

Elderly people usually have less calcium in their diets than others do, and calcium deficiency particularly affects postmenopausal women. But low dietary calcium is only one factor in the huge and complex topic of calcium bioavailability from foods, calcium absorption, and osteoporosis. Many factors are involved in making calcium available for its many essential functions. Vitamin D is, of course, most essential to calcium absorption, though this may be less necessary when the calcium chelates, such as calcium aspartate or calcium citrate, are used. Some clinical studies need to be done to see which calcium supplements are readily transported into the body and how vitamin D may affect them. Many doctors do not consider this important absorption issue and prescribe an oyster shell or a dolomite or bonemeal source as a calcium supplement. Frequently, calcium lactate or calcium carbonate (such as Tums) pills-which are more alkaline and slowly absorbed-are prescribed without suggesting additional vitamin D and magnesium, so important for calcium balance and metabolism. A woman who needs more calcium could be taking an extra gram a day without really getting much of it into her blood or bones.

© Elson M. Haas M.D.
(Excerpted from Staying Healthy with Nutrition:
The Complete Guide to Diet and Nutritional Medicine
Published by Celestial Arts)

HAHNEMANNS CALCAREUM THERAPY AND MODERN CALCIUM TREATMENT [Calcareum Therapy & Calcium Treatment]

2008-08-03T22:48:00.000-07:00

Since the most ancient times, lime has been used in therapeutics and was considered as a simple element of very restricted use, being preferably employed for cauterizing warts, fungosities, carcinomatous ulcers, tinea, burns, etc.

It was not until Davys discovery, in 1808, that the element calcium was known, and from this date on its applications became more interesting, notwithstanding that its use remained relegated to the most complete empiricism.

Hahnemann, the founder of homoeopathy and pioneer of the calcium therapy of today, an expert in the therapeutic value of this substance, went on to the preparation by trituration of his first calcium remedy, Calcarea acetica (Calcium acetate, acetate of lime, Cal., C2 H3 O2) in 1826, an afterwards continued with the Calcareas his experimental labors upon the healthy man.

Calcarea carbonica, Calcarea arsenicosa, Calcarea phosphorica, Calcarea iodata, Calcarea silicata, Calcarea flourica, sulphurica and picrica have been the subject of studies and provings by such homoeopathic physicians as Hering, Allen, Koch, Robinson, James, Macfarlan, Knorre, Franz, Gross, Stapf, Lille, Hartmann, Schussler, Zeil, Guernsey, Bell, Blakely, Conant, Morgan, Burnett and others, which have determined the characteristics and indications for the use of these remedies in therapeutics, enriching at the same time the homoeopathic materia medica.

Calcium is found in the skeleton, in the teeth, in the soft tissues of the organism, being an essential element in all the plasma of the tissues and cells. The normal organism contains 9.0 and 11.0 mg. of calcium per 100 c.c. of serum, which quantity varies in children, this proportion increasing or decreasing in them or in the adult according to their diverse troubles.

The calcium level of the bloody plasma is in reciprocal relation to the phosphorus of the blood.

The metabolic functions of calcium depend upon a complex phenomenon in the acidification, solubility and transportation of the calcium metabolism can be affected by numerous causes, among which we can mention the action of the parathyroid hormone, the B, C and D vitamins, the acid-base equilibrium, the renal, thyroid and parathyroid functions, which supply the absorption degree of calcium and phosphorus salts in the organism.

Pure experimentation in the preparations of lime, which is the inexhaustible source of a knowledge of the homoeopathic materia medica and its application to the clinic, has given us numerous and various symptoms from among them as follows: Calcarea carbonica offers us 1631 subjective and objective symptoms, Calcarea arsenica 342, the phosphorica 640, the sulphurica 340, etc., etc.

From more than one hundred years of continued success in the use of the Calcareas in homoeopathy, it has been proved that the best and most efficient results come from the strictest and closest prescription of them according to the Law of Similitude, embracing the most different applications, therefore it is not a surprise for us to find them indicated for the most varied troubles.

Every author agrees to this and practice justifies it, that the Calcareas are indicated in that constitutional and morbid state characterized by different affections which are settling in tegumentary, lymphatic and osseous systems (scrofula), which is for Escherich tuberculosis added to lymphatism and causing scrofula, that is, the evolution of the tuberculosis in a special filed.

The Calcarea patient is stout, corpulent, fatty, whether it be a child or an adult, with an excessive paleness of the skin and coolness of the extremities. In children the fontanelles remain open, the dentition is delayed and irregular, the abdomen is voluminous and the lower extremities short and thin, a backwardness existing in the general developing of the organism.

The patient is apathetic, capricious, indolent, apprehensive, forgetful, obstinate and does not like either work or exercise.(Hypothyroid).

Anaemia, loss of the coagulability of the blood, periostitis, great sensitiveness to cold, partial perspiration; children crave eggs; spots and opacities of the cornea, chronic dilation of the pupils, cataracts; nasal polyps; otitis, hypertrophy of the tonsils and of the lymphatic ganglia. Goitre.

Loss of appetite, milk intolerance, hyperchlorhydria; hepatic colics; umbilical hernia, infantile diarrhoea, constipation.

Menstrual dysfunction with milky leucorrhoea, sterility, uterine polyps.

Night coughing with spitting, hoarseness hoarseness without pain, the chest is very sensitive to touch and to pressure. Tachycardia. Renal colic, knotty arthritis, chronic rheumatism. Worse by physical and mental exercise, by cold and standing up. Improvement in a dry climate, lying down on the painful side. (Calcarea carbonica).

The patient displays a very serious manifestation in the skin, such as fissures, cracks, suppurations with callosities, fistulous ulcers which secrete a yellowish pus. Hard edges even down to the level of the joints. Stony indurations.

Hereditary syphilis, congenital syphilis. Goitre, Arteriosclerosis. Apoplexy. Tuberculosis. Hematomas, gangrene. Sclerosis of tympanum, otitis; hypertrophy of the tonsils, bloody piles, varicose veins. Aneurysm. (Calcarea fluorica).

Hypertrophy of the thyroid gland particularly in puberty, hypertrophy of ganglia, hypertrophy of the tonsils, adenoids. Uterine fibroids. Croup. Hereditary syphilis. Pneumonia. Persistent catarrhal states; polyps in the nose and in the ear. (Calcarea iodata).

Membranous bronchitis, bronchorrhoea. Membranous dysmenorrhoea. Cancer. (Calcarea acetica).

Epilepsy. Nephritis, albuminuria. Chronic malaria. Cancer of the matrix. Pernicious anaemia. (Calcarea arsenica).

Infantile dyspepsia with a craving for ham, bacon and smoked meats. Flatulency. Enterocolitis during dentition. Hard stools, green and with fetid gases. Fistulas of the anus. Menstrual disorders among young girls with leucorrhoea like white of an egg. Prolapsus of the matrix. (Calcarea phosphorica).

Fibroid, adenitis, suppurated process of long duration. Deafness through chronic otorrhoea, purulent discharges from the ear and from the nose. Mastoiditis. Dysenteriform enteritis, chronic enteritis. Abscesses and fistulas of the rectum and anus. Purulent exudations of the skin. Eczema in children and adults. Lupus. Herpes. (Calcarea sulphurica).

Sclerosis of the ear; chronic otitis; Menieres vertigo. Inguinal and scrotal hernia. (Calcarea picrata).

An extensive volume can be written in reference to the clinical use of the Calcareas of the Hahnemannian school, adding besides that the best results are obtained, as the founder of homoeopathy counsels, with infinitesimal doses, giving cases of cures with the potency from the 30x to the 1000 of Fincke.

The traditional school, which for twenty years up to the present time has paid special attention to the employment of calcium, has undoubtedly been able to enrich their therapeutics with more precise hints about this substance, and the most noted authorities summarize their indications for the following cases: Calcium carbonate (creta preparata), as absorbent and as alkaline base to neutralize the hyperacid dyspepsia. In gastrosuccorrhoea and in infantile diarrhoea. As succedaneous of sodium carbonate. (Therapeutics and Pharmacology, Arnaudt, 1934).

As antiemetic in infantile dyspepsia. (Lessons in Therapeutics, DR. Hernando). As an agent for recalcification in tuberculosis of the lungs. (Ferrier and A. Robin, Elemental Treatise of Therapeutics, Manquat, 1919).

Calcium chlorate as an internal hemostatic or in enemas. (clinical Therapeutics, Dr. Gaston Lyon, 1919).

Neuter phosphate of lime, glycerophosphate and chlorhydrophosphate of calcium as antirachitic. (Diseases of Infancy, Suner and Ordonez, 1930).

The gluconate and lactate of calcium, in hypodermic form after parathyroidectomy, in tetany, nephritis, oedema, eczema, bronchial asthma, urticaria, angioneurotic oedema. Spasmophilia. Uremia. Epilepsy. Eclampsia. Osteomalacia. Osteitis fibrosa. Decalcification. Lack of consolidation of fractures. Tuberculous pleurisy. Enteritis. Night sweating in tuberculosis. Ulcerative colitis. Dysmenorrhoea. As antidote in lead, mercury and chloroform poisoning. (Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Walter A. Bastedo, 1938).

From this brief comparison if follows that the calcium therapy of today is nothing less than the CALCAREUM therapy of the Hahnemannian school, with the particularity that the indications of the latter are more precise as being in conformity with the LAw of Similia similibus curantur. MEXICO, D.F.

THE HOMOEOPATHIC RECORDER By Rabe R F
Volume: 1939 Jul Vol LIV No 7
Author: Hilario Luna Castro
Subject: Materia Medica

Acktiva - Important Aspect of Activa Coral Calcium Treatment for Arthritis and Calcium Support

2008-08-03T22:25:00.000-07:00

Acktiva is a new form of calcium - providing the body with calcium, magnesium and vitamin D as well as over 70 trace minerals in order to create healthy PH levels. This combination makes it easily absorbed into the body. It is very important to have reach 7.3 to 7.5 PH levels in your body. As we are a nation of coffee drinkers and fast food consumers, our body tends to be far too acidic, so taking coral calcium is a great way to help your body get back to its naturally functioning PH levels. This is also an enormous help with arthritis sufferers whose body's blood levels are too acidic. Coral Calcium first became popular in North America when it was discovered that the people of Okinawa, Japan enjoy life longer and it was thought this was because they drink water that is rich in the coral calcium of the area and this helps neutralize toxicity in their bodies.

Not only can Acktiva coral calcium balance your body's PH levels but it has a very good effect on the production of hormones and enzymes.

The coral calcium is extracted directly from oceanic and marine coral from the Okinawa district. Calcium builds healthy bones and teeth and could help prevent bone loss and deterioration, thus reducing the risk of osteoporosis. Coral calcium can also help regulate blood pressure and cholesterol, helps with kidney stones and muscle contractions as well as possibly reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. It also aids nutrients go through the body in an optimum manner. Magnesium and vitamin D help with the body's absorption of calcium. In fact one serving of Acktive contains more than 50% of the daily recommended calcium and magnesium and over 200% of the Vitamin D required.

Acktiva can help with:

colon cancer

cardiovascular disease

bone deterioration

high blood pressure

premenstrual syndrom

Acktiva can benefit people at any stage of their lives - there are no known side-effects. Acktiva was tested properly according to the FDA standards, helps support good health, provides support against diseases such as osteoporosis and forms of arthritis, help to keep your body at a healthy, balance PH level. Eating whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables helps to keep your body in balance. Acktiva coral calcium has been designed to help people with bone problems and heart disorders. As mentioned above, there are other benefits too.

Acktiva is a very popular as it one of the most comprehensive supplements available today.

For more information on Acktiva, please visit Acktiva

By Sandra Fierling
http://www.buzzle.com/articles

Can Calcium Prevent Disease?

2008-08-03T21:43:00.000-07:00

by Aimee Amodio
http://health.families.com

Calcium is essential for the body's bones. But this mineral has a big role in preventing other health problems, too!

Calcium has been associated with lowering blood pressure (and the risk of high blood pressure). Researchers have noted that a vegetarian diet that is high in minerals (including calcium, magnesium, and potassium), high in fiber, and low in fat tends to lead to lower blood pressure levels. Clinical studies have also looked at the effect of an increased calcium intake on blood pressure.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health tested different types of diet on adults with high blood pressure and published the results in 1997. A diet that was high in fruits, veggies, and low-fat dairy (providing more than 1200 milligrams of calcium daily) resulted in the biggest decrease in blood pressure.

Calcium may also have a role in preventing colorectal cancer. Research on the matter has had mixed results, with some studies showing that increased calcium intake can reduce the risk of non-malignant tumors in the colon. Further studies are needed to confirm whether calcium truly has the ability to protect against colorectal cancer.

Recent studies have shown that increased calcium intake (especially in the form of dietary calcium, rather than supplements) can help decrease the risk of kidney stones. Because calcium oxalate stones are the most common form of kidney stones in the United States, it was previously thought that calcium intake was a major contributor to kidney stone development. Research has pointed at oxalate intake and lack of fluid consumption as much bigger risk factors than calcium intake for most individuals.

Calcium may also help with weight management. Some observational studies have made a connection between high calcium intake and lower body weight (or less weight gain over time). There are two theories as to why calcium makes a difference:
A high calcium intake may reduce calcium concentrations in fat cells by reducing production of two hormones. This can increase fat breakdown in cells and discourage fat accumulation.
Calcium may bind to small amounts of dietary fat in the digestive system -- preventing the fat from being absorbed into the body.

Further trials are planned to investigate the connection between calcium and weight regulation.

Dietary Calcium and Vitamin D Might Prevent PMS

2008-08-03T21:29:00.000-07:00

Possible Cut in Risk of Premenstrual Syndrome Marks Another Good Reason to Eat Right
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News

Now there's yet another reason for women to get plenty of calcium and vitamin D. The bone-building nutrients may prevent PMS.

PMS -- premenstrual syndrome PMS -- premenstrual syndrome -- is a collection of symptoms that come between ovulation and a woman's menstrual period. Symptoms include depression, irritability, fatigue, abdominal cramps, breast tenderness, and headaches. To qualify as PMS, the symptoms must be severe enough to interfere with normal life activities.

There are various ways to treat PMS, but no way to prevent it. Now a strong clue comes from University of Massachusetts researcher Elizabeth R. Bertone-Johnson, ScD, and her Harvard University colleagues. The researchers analyzed data collected over 10 years from nurses 27-44 years old participating in a long-term health study -- including more than 1,000 women with PMS.

"We found women with high intakes of both calcium and vitamin D did have significantly reduced PMS risk," Bertone-Johnson tells WebMD. "Those who ate about four servings a day of low-fat dairy or yogurt or fortified orange juice had a 40% lower risk of PMS than those who did not. That is about 1,200 milligrams of calcium or 400 international units (IU) of vitamin D each day."

Calcium's role in cancer

2008-08-03T01:58:00.000-07:00

Does it really help prevent disease?

By Karen Collins, R.D.

Special to MSNBC

updated 5:54 p.m. ET Dec. 14, 2004

For some time, nutrition researchers have thought that sufficient amounts of calcium in the diet may protect people from colon cancer. The results of studies vary, however. Two new explanations for this inconsistency have been offered: First, the source of calcium may make a difference. Second, inherited differences in the “receptors” on cells that process nutrients could safeguard some people more than others.

There are still good theoretical reasons linking calcium consumption to a reduced risk of colon cancer, however. These reasons tend to be supported by both laboratory and human studies.

One of the most recent analyses pooled data from ten different studies in five countries. People who consumed the most calcium had a 20 percent lower risk of colorectal cancer than those people who consumed the least calcium.

In another study, women who met or nearly met current adult calcium recommendations reduced their risk of colorectal cancer almost 30 percent compared to those who ate half the recommended amount. In this study, total calcium consumption was more significant than dairy product consumption, and vitamin D was not linked to risk.

In addition to these studies, others have shown from 15 to 30 percent drops in colorectal cancer risk for people with high calcium consumption.

Calcium can help you sleep

2008-08-01T01:28:00.000-07:00

Calcium, especially when contained in food, has a sedative effect on the body. A calcium deficiency in the body causes restlessness and wakefulness. For adults, doses of approximately 600 milligrams of liquid calcium have been shown to have a relaxing effect.

Dosage: 1,500-2,000 mg daily, in divided doses, after meals and at bedtime.

Magnesium, in doses of approximately 250 milligrams, can help induce sleep. Magnesium deficiency is responsible for nervousness that prevents sleep. Magnesium-rich foods include kelp, wheat bran, almonds, cashews, blackstrap molasses, and brewer's yeast.

Dosage: 1,000 mg daily.

Note: The lack of calcium and magnesium can cause leg cramps during the night. Calcium and magnesium produce calming effects on the brain. They are essential for normal sleep. Calcium and magnesium taken 45 minutes before bedtime have a tranquilizing effect. Use a 2:1 ratio, such as 500 mg of calcium and 250 mg of magnesium in tablet or capsule form.

Calcium Prevent Menstrual Cramps

2008-07-31T20:30:00.000-07:00

Dysmenorrhea, or painful menstruation, is classified as either primary or secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea generally occurs within a couple of years of the first menstrual period. The pain tends to decrease with age and very often resolves after childbirth. Secondary dysmenorrhea is commonly a result of endometriosis, starts later in life, and tends to increase in intensity over time.
As many as half of menstruating women are affected by dysmenorrhea, and of these about 10% have severe dysmenorrhea, which greatly limits activities for one to three days each month.

Calcium may help prevent menstrual cramps by maintaining normal muscle tone. Muscles that are calcium-deficient tend to be hyperactive and therefore more likely to cramp. Calcium has been reported to reduce pain during the menstrual phase of the cycle and reduce water retention during the premenstrual phase.5 Calcium supplementation of 1,000 mg per day can be taken throughout the month. During acute menstrual cramps, calcium can be taken in the amount of 250–500 mg every four hours for pain relief, up to a total of 2,000 mg per day.

References:
Galeao R. La dysmenorrhee, syndrome multiforme. Gynecologie 1974;25:125

Penland J, Johnson P. Dietary calcium and manganese effects on menstrual cycle symptoms. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1993;168:1417–23.

Muscle Fatigue May Be Caused by Calcium Loss

2008-07-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

New research from Columbia University in New York shows that muscle fatigue during and after exercise may be caused by loss of calcium from muscle cells and that drugs that block the release of calcium from muscle cells may prolong endurance (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, February 11, 2008).

When you exercise, your cells use food to generate electricity that causes nerves to send messages and muscles to contract. The energy from food generates electricity by driving minerals inside and outside of the cells, creating an imbalance of the minerals between the outside and inside of cells that causes electrons (electricity) to flow. A major source of this flow of electrons is from muscle cells pushing calcium outside their cell walls. This paper shows that muscles lose calcium continuously during exercise, and eventually do not have enough calcium to continue pumping calcium outside of cells, and therefore cannot generate as much electricity. This causes the muscles to weaken, hurt, lose coordination and feel tired.

The authors timed mice exercising to the point of exhaustion. Then they gave the mice an experimental drug that blocks the loss of calcium from muscle cells, and they were able to exercise longer. The researchers demonstrated the same process of calcium loss in the muscles of trained cyclists. However, they have not taken the next step of testing the drug to see if it improved endurance, because the drug has not been approved for use in humans.

Calcium and Kidney Stone

2008-07-30T23:38:00.000-07:00

Kidney stones occur frequently. As many as 10 percent of menand 3 percent of women have a stone during their adult lives.About 80 percent of all stones are composed of calcium oxalate,alone or with a nucleus of calcium phosphate (apatite). Thefirst step in the formation of calcium stones is the formationof microscopic crystals in the lumen of renal tubules as a resultof supersaturation of the luminal fluid with calcium oxalateor calcium phosphate. Crystal growth, and therefore stone formation,is enhanced by the attachment of crystals to the surface ofcells in the papillae and is reduced by the inhibitors of crystalgrowth and aggregation that are normally present in renal tubularfluid. Currently, however, attempts to prevent calcium stonesremain focused on efforts to reduce urinary concentrations ofcalcium and oxalate by reducing the rate of urinary excretionof these substances and by increasing urine volume. In addition,efforts may be directed toward increasing urinary citrate excretionin order to increase the formation of calcium citrate, a highlysoluble calcium salt whose formation decreases urinary concentrationsof free calcium.

Among healthy subjects, an increase in dietary calcium intakeresults in an increase in urinary calcium excretion equal toabout 8 percent of the amount by which the dietary calcium intakeis increased. Among the approximately 30 to 50 percent of peoplewith calcium stones who have hypercalciuria (urinary calciumexcretion greater than 300 mg [7.5 mmol] per day in men and250 mg [6.2 mmol] per day in women), urinary calcium excretionincreases by about 20 percent of increased dietary calcium intake,because of the increased efficiency of intestinal calcium absorptionthat may be either dependent on calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitaminD₃) or independent of it. It is standard practice to recommenddietary calcium restriction to prevent stone recurrence in patientswith hypercalciuria, even though prospective trials have notestablished the efficacy of such restriction. In addition, adviceto restrict dietary calcium intake is often extended, withouta clear rationale, to patients with calcium stones who do nothave hypercalciuria.

Lemann, J., Composition of the Diet and Calcium Kidney Stones, The New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 328:880-882

Calcium and Hypertension

2008-07-30T22:46:00.000-07:00

Regulation of intracellular calcium plays a key role in hypertensionand obesity. Dysregulation of calcium homeostasis appears tobe a fundamental factor linking these conditions. Regulationof intracellular calcium in key disease-related target tissuesby calcitrophic hormones provides the opportunity to modulatedisease risk with dietary calcium.

Overall, sub-optimal calciumintakes contribute to the etiology of salt-sensitivity and hypertension.High salt diets exert a calciuretic effect, serving to exacerbatethe physiological consequences of sub-optimal calcium diets.Among these are increases in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, whichincreases vascular smooth muscle intracellular calcium, therebyincreasing peripheral vascular resistance and blood pressure.Dietary calcium reduces blood pressure in large part via suppressionof 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, thereby normalizing intracellularcalcium.

The practical relevance of this approach has been confirmedin the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) trial,which demonstrated that increasing low-fat dairy product andfruit and vegetable consumption exerted profound blood pressure-loweringeffects. The magnitude of this effect among hypertensives wascomparable to that typically found in pharmacological trialsof mild hypertension. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D also stimulatescalcium influx in human adipocytes, resulting in stimulationof lipogenesis, inhibition of lipolysis and expansion of triglyceridestores.

Accordingly, suppression of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin Dby dietary calcium has been identified as a target, which maycontribute to the prevention and management of obesity. Indeed,laboratory, clinical and population data all indicate a significantanti-obesity effect of dietary calcium, although large-scaleprospective clinical trials have not yet been conducted to definitivelydemonstrate the scope of this effect. Thus, available evidenceindicates that increasing dietary calcium intakes may resultin reductions in fat mass as well as in blood pressure.

By. Zemel, M. B., Calcium Modulation of Hypertension and Obesity: Mechanisms and Implications Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 20, No. 90005, 428S-435S (2001)

Calcium and Infertility in Man

2008-07-30T22:19:00.000-07:00

Sperm are a lively bunch to begin with, but they become even more excited when they zero in on an egg. They swim faster and their tail movements become more forceful and erratic.

Now scientists have linked this behavior, called "hyperactivity," to selective protein channels in the sperm's tail.

Sperm hyperactivity is necessary for breaking through two physical barriers that protect the egg from fertilization.

The current study links two key findings made in recent years about sperm hyperactivity. The first was that a sperm's whip-like tail is studded with selective channels made from a protein called CatSper1 that allows only calcium ions through. Scientists also knew that hyperactivity was associated with sudden influxes of calcium into the tails.

A sperm's tail is called a flagellum, and it spins like a boat propeller to move the sperm forward.

Using a cellular recording technique called patch-clamping, the researchers established
definitively that the opening of CatSper1 is responsible for the influx of calcium into the sperm.

The calcium surge causes the sperm's tail to spin faster and more unevenly and the sperm is propelled through its viscous environment more forcefully.

In experiments involving mice, the researchers showed that sperm lacking CatSper1 can't achieve the hyperactive state they need for egg fertilization (Than,2006).

Hyperactivity has its place. In the last seconds before fertilization, a sperm, somehow spurred by a spike of intracellular calcium, launches into high gear. Without this final, frenzied burst of energy, the sperm cannot penetrate the egg’s outer layers and will never merge its DNA with that cloistered within the egg’s protective membrane (Garbers, 2003).

Garbers, D. et al. Hyperactivated Sperm Motility Driven by CatSper2 Is Required for Fertilization. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100, 14869-14874 (December 9, 2003).

Than, K. 2006. How Sperm Get Hyperactive, LiveScience Staff Writer

The Role of Calcium to Prevent Osteoporosis

2008-07-30T19:35:00.000-07:00

Calcium makes bones strong. In fact, bones and teeth contain 99% of the body's total calcium, with the remaining 1% in intracellular and extracellular fluids. Bones act as a storehouse for calcium, which is used by the body and replaced by the diet throughout a person's life. If enough calcium is not consumed, the body takes it from the bones. If more calcium is removed from the bones than is consumed in the diet, the bones become fragile and weak as a person gets older, leading to osteoporosis and fractures.

Osteoporosis prevention begins during childhood and adolescence by getting enough exercise and the proper nutrients, including calcium and vitamin D. However, adults can help prevent osteoporosis in the same ways.

The importance of calcium in developing and maintaining bone mass varies throughout a person’s life. At times of rapid and significant bone growth (during the teenage years) or rapid bone loss (after age 50 years), calcium is more important. Therefore, to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, calcium intake should be the highest during adolescence and after age 50 years.

Calcium and Osteoporosis

2008-07-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

Calcium is an important nutrient and is needed for many of the body’s functions, including blood clotting and the proper function of the heart, muscles, and nerves. Calcium is also critical for the health and strength of bones. Not getting enough calcium can contribute to the development of osteoporosis (porous bones).

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by bones that are thin and fragile and can break (fracture) easily. People with osteoporosis have low bone mass, and low bone mass can result in bone fractures.

Having enough calcium in the diet is essential in helping to prevent osteoporosis and helping to prevent the loss of bone mass.

Calcium alone cannot protect a person from bone loss caused by certain medications or diseases, smoking, alcoholism not enough exercise, or a lack of estrogen. Calcium does help a person maintain healthy bones, though, and it helps children and adolescents grow strong bones. However, only 50-60% of adults and only 10-25% of adolescents in the United States get the recommended amount of calcium

The Benefits of Calcium

2008-07-27T22:53:00.000-07:00

YOU'VE HEARD IT A MILLION TIMES: You need calcium to prevent osteoporosis. But a lack of this mineral means more than weak bones, says Robert P. Heaney, M.D., a calcium researcher and member of the Osteoporosis Research Center at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. Key organs and bodily functions, like your heart and metabolism, need calcium to operate at their best. Yet only 21 percent of us are getting the recommended amount of calcium, according to federal government statistics.

Here are five important but little-known ways that getting more calcium can improve your health.

Benefit 1

Research suggests that if you don't get enough calcium in your diet, you're likely to be overweight, Heaney says. Of course, it's possible to be overweight even if you do get plenty of calcium, but Heaney points out that an adequate supply appears to make it easier to maintain a healthy weight.

The reason has to do with your body's response to a calcium deficit. When you're low, your body thinks you're starving and enters emergency mode, releasing parathyroid hormone from four glands in your neck. This hormone stimulates your bones to release some calcium into your bloodstream. Your kidneys also deliver a dose of a hormone called calcitriol, a form of vitamin D, to increase your ability to absorb calcium.

The trouble is that parathyroid hormone and calcitriol also stimulate the production of fat and inhibit its breakdown. As a result, your body stores fat and holds on to it stubbornly, even if you're on a low-calorie diet, explains Michael B. Zemel, Ph.D., head of the department of nutrition at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. On the other hand, a high calcium intake suppresses these hormones so your body stores less fat and also breaks it down easily, he says.

In his research, Zemel found that calcium from low-fat or nonfat dairy products was more effective for weight loss than any other form.

Benefit 2

Calcium protects your heart.

If you're low on calcium, researchers say, you're more likely to have high blood pressure. Your body releases the hormone calcitriol in response to a calcium shortage, and calcitriol acts on the smooth muscle walls of your arteries, constricting them and elevating your blood pressure, says Heaney.

In fact, your calcium intake may be almost as important to blood pressure as your sodium intake, says Gene Spiller, Ph.D., the director of the Health Research and Studies Center in Los Altos, Calif., and co-author of Calcium: Nature's Versatile Mineral (Avery, 2000). He explains that an adequate supply of calcium helps muscles--including your heart muscle--do their work of contracting and relaxing. Calcium also appears to help your nervous system regulate the level of pressure in your arteries.

The benefits of calcium on heart health were confirmed in the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1997. The study found that a healthy diet that included two to three servings a day of low-fat, calcium-rich dairy foods like yogurt reduced systolic blood pressure by 5.5 points more than the control diet, and reduced diastolic blood pressure by 3 points more. "We don't want to oversell the importance of calcium [for heart health], because it's only a part of the puzzle," says Heaney. "But it's a very useful part."

Benefit 3

Calcium improves premenstrual moods.

A 1998 study led by Susan Thys-Jacobs, M.D., of St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, found that getting enough calcium can ease the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). In this study of 497 women, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, half took 600 mg supplements of calcium carbonate twice a day, while half took a placebo. The women who took calcium experienced significantly fewer symptoms in two months and improved even more after three months.

The explanation comes down (again) to calcium-regulating hormones. Your body suppresses the hormones if your calcium supplies are adequate, but releases these hormones if you're not getting enough. Women who suffer from PMS appear to have elevated levels of these hormones during their menstrual cycle. Thys-Jacobs explains that it's no accident that some of the symptoms of PMS, like cramping, irritability, and depression, are similar to the symptoms of a calcium-deficient state.

The good news for PMS sufferers is that consuming calcium appears to ease most of the symptoms. "We found that calcium is effective both on the emotional and physical side," Thys-Jacobs says. "It has a major effect on irritability, cravings, mood swings, breast tenderness, and other symptoms."

Benefit 4

Calcium protects against colon cancer.

Adequate calcium intake may reduce your overall risk of colon cancer and suppress the growth of polyps that can lead to cancer. Researchers don't know exactly why this happens, but Heaney says it may be linked to the excess calcium that's left in your intestines after your body absorbs what it needs. On its way through the colon, this unabsorbed calcium is believed to bind with cancer promoters so they're excreted together from the body. Studies have shown that both food sources of calcium and calcium supplements provide this protective effect.