Importance of Calcium
Calcium is an essential nutrient for the human body. Appropriate calcium supplementation can strengthen bones and teeth, regulate neuromuscular excitability, activate enzymes in the body, protect blood clotting function and regulate osmotic pressure.
- Strengthening of bones and teeth:Calcium is an important component of bones and teeth and determines their hardness. Calcium supplementation can strengthen bones and teeth and maintain their healthy state.
- Regulation of neuromuscular excitability: When blood calcium drops, neuromuscular excitability increases, resulting in symptoms such as tetany and muscle spasms; calcium supplementation can maintain neuromuscular stability.
- Regulate enzyme activity:The human body contains numerous enzymes that need calcium support to work properly, such as adenylate cyclase, tyrosine hydroxylase and so on. When calcium ions are insufficient, the activity of these enzymes is affected.
- Involvement in coagulation:Calcium is one of the important coagulation anaesthetes and is involved in the process of coagulation.When the body is deficient in calcium, it can cause coagulation dysfunction.
There are many calcium supplements available in everyday life. The following is a comparison of the active ingredients of various calcium tablets:
- Calcium carbonate:Containing 40% of calcium, it has high absorption rate, few side effects and cheap, but it will stimulate the stomach and intestines, and is prone to adverse reactions such as bloating, nausea and vomiting. People with more serious constipation are not recommended to choose calcium carbonate as a calcium source, you can choose calcium gluconate or calcium lactate, the astringent effect will be much smaller.
- Calcium Hydrogen Phosphate:Contains 20.2% calcium. The phosphorus in calcium phosphate can promote the body’s absorption and utilization of calcium. Due to the low absorption rate, it should be used with caution for people with renal dysfunction.
- Calcium Citrate:21% calcium, low impact on digestive system.
- Calcium Lactate:13% calcium, easy to dissolve, low gastrointestinal burden.
- Active Calcium:Stimulate the stomach and intestines, not suitable for the elderly and those who lack stomach acid.
- Organic calcium (amino acid chelated calcium): 16% calcium, containing trace elements, will not cause constipation and gas, suitable for menopausal women.
Conclusion
A large number of experiments have proved that the absorption of calcium is not directly related to the form of calcium, and the difference between the absorption rate of solid calcium and liquid calcium is not large. We cannot compare which calcium tablet is better in isolation. When choosing calcium supplements, we need to consider the individual’s health condition, gastric acid secretion, response to drugs and other factors.
Note:
Whether you are an elderly child or a chronic patient taking medication, to determine whether you need calcium supplements or not, you should first go to a regular hospital to consult a doctor and do the appropriate tests, and use the medication under the doctor’s guidance, so as to avoid unauthorized use of medication leading to adverse consequences.
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