The document discusses calcium, a major mineral needed for structural functions like bones and teeth as well as regulatory roles, noting its digestion/absorption involves both active transport and passive diffusion and can be influenced by factors like vitamin D, protein, and phytates/oxalates; it also outlines calcium levels/transport in the body, functions, dietary sources, deficiencies/toxicities, and conditions like osteoporosis.
The document discusses calcium, a major mineral needed for structural functions like bones and teeth as well as regulatory roles, noting its digestion/absorption involves both active transport and passive diffusion and can be influenced by factors like vitamin D, protein, and phytates/oxalates; it also outlines calcium levels/transport in the body, functions, dietary sources, deficiencies/toxicities, and conditions like osteoporosis.
The document discusses calcium, a major mineral needed for structural functions like bones and teeth as well as regulatory roles, noting its digestion/absorption involves both active transport and passive diffusion and can be influenced by factors like vitamin D, protein, and phytates/oxalates; it also outlines calcium levels/transport in the body, functions, dietary sources, deficiencies/toxicities, and conditions like osteoporosis.
The document discusses calcium, a major mineral needed for structural functions like bones and teeth as well as regulatory roles, noting its digestion/absorption involves both active transport and passive diffusion and can be influenced by factors like vitamin D, protein, and phytates/oxalates; it also outlines calcium levels/transport in the body, functions, dietary sources, deficiencies/toxicities, and conditions like osteoporosis.
• Major minerals • dietary need ≥ 100 mg/day • Ca, P, Mg etc.
• Trace minerals • dietary need <100 mg/day • Iron, copper, selenium, zinc etc.
• Ultratrace elements • Ug (microgram) • Vanadium, tin, arsenic, nickel, silicon etc. The Minerals in Your Body Calcium Calcium • Divalent cation • Most abundant mineral in the body • 40% of total mineral mass • 1.5% of total body mass • 99% of calcium is in the bones and teeth • 1% within intracellular and extracellular fluids Digestion and Absorption Digestion • Present in foods and supplements as insoluble salts • Must be ionized (Ca2+) for absorption; achieved by acidic stomach pH • Once ionized, may form complex with other minerals (reform) Absorption • In general, 20-50%, avg. 30% in adults • Increased up to 60% in pregnancy and with low calcium intake • Increased up to 75% in infants, children Digestion and Absorption Two main transport processes Active Transport – Small intestine • Mainly in duodenum and proximal jejunum • Saturable – limit to its absorption (and will be excreted out) • Requires energy and a transport protein • Regulated by vitamin D • Stimulated by low-calcium diets (<400 mg/meal or 1000 mg/d)) Digestion and Absorption Passive Diffusion – Small Intestine • Mainly in jejunum and ileum • Non-saturable • Requires neither energy nor transport protein – Large Intestine (colon) • Minor route calcium absorption (4-10% of total) • Colonic bacteria may release calcium bound to fermentable fibers, making it available for absorption Digestion and Absorption Dietary factors influencing absorption Enhancing factors • Vitamin D (calcitriol) – increased CBP • Sugars and sugar alcohols – increased solubility • Lactose– increased solubility • Protein – uncertain Inhibiting factors • Phytate (grains, legumes, nuts) – binds calcium • Oxalate (vegetables, fruit, nuts) – binds calcium • Unabsorbed fatty acids – binds calcium • Caffeine: Increases secretion of Ca++ back into the gut • Divalent cations (Mg+2, Zn+2) – compete for absorption Blocks Absorption Phytates Foods mg phytate/100g Wheat 0.85 Maize 1.02 Barley 0.97 Oats 1.01 Soybean 1.43 Peas 1.02
• 10% complexed to anions, like sulfate, phosphate, and citrate • Storage • “Functional stores” in bones and teeth Functions of Calcium Structural: ü Teeth and bones Functional roles in: - Regulation of muscle contraction - Nerve impulse transmission - Regulation of biochemical reactions via calmodulin (2nd messenger) - Maintenance of acid-base balance (pH) - Blood coagulation
Numerous regulatory functions of calcium are performed
by <0.5% of the total body calcium. Functions
Structural integrity of bones and
teeth • Calcium phosphate • Hydroxyapatite crystals [Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2] http://ib.bioninja.com.au/higher- level/topic-11-animal-physiology/112- - Role of Calcium in Muscle Contraction movement/muscle-contraction.html Calcium Channels and Pumps in Muscle Cells
- Role of Calcium in Synaptic Junctions and Neurotransmission - Calcium as a Second Messenger with Calmodulin Protein to Activate - Enzymes Blood Calcium Levels • Calcium is bound to protein in the blood. • Blood calcium is tightly regulated by several endocrine factors. • Blood calcium levels are closely influenced by: - Parathyroid hormone - Vitamin D - Calcitonin Regulation of calcium in the blood Vitamin D Functions & Mechanisms of Action (from vit D slide) Excretion Urinary • More than 90% of calcium reabsorbed by kidneys • Daily calcium losses in urine average 170 mg Fecal • From 50-80% of dietary calcium excreted in feces • Daily endogenous calcium losses in feces average 75 mg • Factors that increase fecal calcium excretion are same as those inhibiting absorption Recommended Intakes • RDAs • Females • 11-18 years: 1300 mg • l9-50 years: 1000 mg • >50 years: 1200 mg
• Males • 11-18 years: 1300 mg • 19-70 years: 1000 mg • >70 years : 1200mg Dietary Sources Food Serving Calcium Milk 1c 300 mg Cheddar Cheese 1.5 oz 300 mg Tofu, Calcium Set ½c 258 mg Chinese Cabbage ½ c, cooked 239 mg White Beans ½ c, cooked 113 mg Spinach ½ c, cooked 115 mg Broccoli ½ c, cooked 35 mg Assessment
• No routine biochemical method is available to
directly assess calcium status. • Common to assess bone mineral density • Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) • CT scan (less precise) Deficiency
Individuals at risk • Most commonly related to poor intake and/or high calcium losses
Symptoms • In children, stunted growth • In older adults, osteoporosis • The leading causes of osteoporosis: • Drop in estrogen in women at the time of menopause • Drop in testosterone in men. • Women over age 50 and men over age 70 have a higher risk for osteoporosis. Toxicity Individuals at risk • Individuals consuming high amounts of calcium from diet, supplements, antacids
Intakes above UL of 2500 mg (for adults 19-50 years)
and 2000 mg (for adults >50 years) • Constipation • Kidney stones • Milk Alkali Syndrome Osteoporosis What? • Thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone mineral density (BMD) over time. Most common type of bone disease. • Research estimates that: • Approx. 1 out of 5 American women >50 yrs has osteoporosis. • About half of all women > 50 yrs. will have a fracture of the hip, wrist, or Less dense, weakened, vertebra and brittle bones
When does it occur?
• Bone resorption is greater than bone formation ↑ risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures Osteoporosis • Causes • Vitamin D deficiency • Hyperparathyroidism • Chronic rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease, eating disorders • Taking corticosteroid medications (prednisone, methylprednisolone) every day for more than 3 months, or taking certain anti-seizure drugs • Being confined to a bed Osteoporosis • Diet • Calcium: at least 1,200 milligrams per day of calcium • 800 - 1,000 IUs of vitamin D3 • Adequate protein
• Exercise • Weight-bearing -- walking, jogging, playing tennis, dancing • Resistance -- free weights, weight machines, stretch bands • Balance exercises -- tai chi, yoga Avoid any exercise that presents a risk of falling, or high-impact exercises that may cause fractures. Milk-Alkali Syndrome Acquired condition
Caused by • Increased consumption of milk • Taking certain antacids, especially calcium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), over a long period of time
Results in • High levels of calcium (hypercalcemia) • Accompanied by a shift in the body's acid/base balance towards alkalinity.
• If untreated, may lead to calcification and renal failure
