Calcium (w/Vit D)

STRENGTH: 600 mg
FORM: 90 Tablets

Calcium is a mineral that is an essentialpart of our bones and teeth. The heart, nerves, and blood clotting systems also need calcium to work. There is no doubt from a scientific stand point that taking calcium with vitamin D will help build bone mass during childhood and adolescence, and will also slow the rate of bone loss that naturally occurs with aging. Calcium’s and vitamin D’s existence in the system helps protect against the development of osteoporosis, which is a disease caused by failure to either take enough of, or absorb calcium at a rate that will help to prevent progressive bone loss during aging. There are many reasons why bone density can suffer. Even malabsorption gastrointestinal diseases such as Crohn’s can cause nutrient depletion such as with what happens with calcium, which then causes other associated pathological conditions.

According to a study published today in the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) journal of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, it shows that calcium and vitamin D treatment alone can improve bone mineral density in Crohn's patients by up to four percent per year. People with Crohn's can suffer loss of bone mass and an increased number of bone fractures due to treatment with corticosteroids (which is obviously not the best long term answer to the problem), other causes can include (as discussed) poor nutrition, chronic inflammation and calcium and vitamin D deficiencies. Calcium and vitamin D have been used for along time to enhance bone mass in people with Crohn's, and the findings in these studies show it to be sufficient in maintaining bone density in these patients. Osteoporosis by definition is a condition in which bone mass is sufficiently compromised, which can ultimately result in bone fragility. Most of the people who suffer from reduced bone density do not get enough calcium or vitamin D from diet alone. In many individuals who do not see a doctor regularly osteoporosis is only recognized when a fracture occurs. Substantial research has shown that certain are supplements are effective in maintaining or increasing bone density.

More than 99 percent of the body’s calcium is found in the bones and teeth. Our bones have an obvious structural role, but they also serve as the body’s reservoir for calcium and other minerals, where it can be mobilized from and used for other purposes when needed. Calcium is also essential for muscle contraction and nerve transmission and in the maintenance of systemic pH. Bone tissue is dynamic and is constantly changing. It is constantly in a state of transformation, between balance and imbalance. And the rate of bone formation and growth is greater in growing children, than the rate in which calcium is reabsorbed. However in most young adults depending on their diets, the two processes are approximately balanced. And as we are well aware, as we age the rate of formation falls behind the rate of reabsorption, and there is generally a loss of bone substance.

Bone is formed from structural minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and protein (collagen and the like), and since the body doesn’t have any way to produce these on its own it must obtain them from outside sources e.g. from dietary intake. Even after we stop growing the nutrient support must continue to be provided, because the demand will always be there. Any losses must be offset by more intake, because otherwise the body will treat the bones as the one place it can go to and extract calcium from to satisfy the body’s systemic needs. There have been literally hundreds of studies done that show taking calcium in the diet helps to offset the loss; and in many cases helps to re-establish balance. But what was poorly understood until recently is that it is not just the intake of calcium that is important, it is the intake of support nutrients like vitamin D and magnesium that are also important. If the body doesn’t have enough vitamin D in the system at the same time as calcium is available it will not be as efficiently utilized. The synergistic effect should not be surprising because vitamin D is unlike any other vitamin; vitamin D is actually a pre-hormone of the potent steroid hormone called calcitriol. And as is a well known fact, your skin makes vitamin D when sunlight strikes it because of certain chemicals in the body that lay just beneath the skin. Your liver then converts vitamin D into the storage form of vitamin D called calcidiol, it then gets stored in the body to be used at a later date and conversion to the active form of vitamin D that helps the body to utilized calcium the way it should.

Do not take calcium if:
- You have too much phosphate in your bloodstream, such for those who drink excessive amounts of soda.
- You have kidney disease.
- You have a condition called "sarcoidosis."

NOTE: Taking calcium with some medications at the same time may lower their effectiveness.

Follow these guidelines:
Wait at least 30 minutes after taking bone-strengthening medicines such as alendronate (Fosamax), etidronate (Didronel), or risedronate (Actonel) before you take calcium. Wait at least 4 hours after taking the thyroid medication levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levothroid, Levoxyl) before taking calcium. Wait at least 2 hours after taking certain antibiotics such as tetracycline, demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Vibramycin,, Monodox, Doxy Caps, Doryx, others), minocycline (Dynacin, Vectrin, Minocin), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), levofloxacin (Levaquin), ofloxacin (Floxin) before taking calcium. Taking calcium with some diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide, indapamide (Lozol), metolazone (Zaroxolyn) can increase calcium in your body and might increase the risk of side effects.

Before taking calcium, talk with your healthcare professional if you take these or any other medications. †

REFERENCES:

1. Siris ES, Miller PD, Barrett-Connor E, Faulkner KG, Wehren LE, Abbott TA, Berger ML, Santora AC, Sherwood LM. Identification and fracture outcomes of undiagnosed low bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: Results from the National Osteoporosis Risk Assessment. JAMA 2001; 286:2815-2822.
2. Welten DC, Kemper HCG, Post GB, Van Staveren WA. A meta-analysis of the effect of calcium intake on bone mass in young and middle aged females and males. J Nutrition 1995; 125:2802-2813
3. Nieves JW, Komar L, Cosman F, Lindsay R. Calcium potentiates the effect of estrogen and calcitonin on bone mass: review and analysis. Am J Clin Nutr 1998; 67:18-24.
4. Reid IR, Ames RW, Evans MC, et al. Long-term effects of calcium supplementation on bone loss and fractures in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial. American J Medicine 1995; 98:331-335.