6 subjects susceptible to calcium deficiency should supplement

People with high calcium needs

Calcium is one of the five most important trace elements for the body (carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium), but the body cannot synthesize it and must be taken in from outside through foods or pharmaceuticals. It is lost every day through sweat and the excretory system.

Some people have higher than normal calcium needs or are at risk of calcium deficiency due to an unbalanced diet or possibly other factors.

People who may be calcium deficient

1. Children and adolescents are susceptible to calcium deficiency.

Children and adolescents are susceptible to calcium deficiency because at this age their bones and teeth are developing, so calcium supplements are needed to support this process. If there is a calcium deficiency, children may be malnourished, have rickets, grow slowly or not grow in height.

Normally, children and adolescents need 800 - 1200mg of calcium per day. Pay attention to the dosage to avoid calcium deficiency or excess, as both are not good for health. Supplement children 2 to 3 times a year, with an interval of 3 to 4 weeks.

In addition, children need to be active outdoors to get vitamin D from the early morning sunlight.

2. People often have a diet lacking in calcium

Some countries in Southeast Asia, East Asia, Africa, Central and South America have high rates of calcium deficiency due to a diet that is not varied and rich in calcium. People living in these areas should take calcium supplements to compensate for the deficiency from food.

3. Vegetarian

Vegetarians may be deficient in calcium because they do not eat dairy products. Other sources of calcium besides dairy products include soy milk and soy products, green leafy vegetables, bread, oranges, and apricots.

Calcium is an essential mineral for human health.

4. Premenopausal and menopausal women

As women enter this stage, they experience a decrease in estrogen production, a hormone that helps maintain bone density. After age 40, bone formation slows down, but osteoporosis continues. The decrease in estrogen reduces the connection between calcium and bone protein.

Diet only provides about 50% of calcium and vitamin D. During this period, the daily calcium requirement is 1000 - 1200 mg calcium and vitamin D is 800 - 1000 IU/day. Therefore, women can supplement by taking additional medication.

5. Elderly

As we age, our bones lose calcium and become weak. This increases the risk of fractures, especially in the hip, wrist, and spine. Calcium supplements can help maintain bone health and prevent injuries such as fractures.

6. People with osteoporosis and bone fractures

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that causes bones to lose calcium and become brittle and prone to fracture. People with osteoporosis need to supplement calcium to prevent the progression of the disease and reduce the risk of fractures.

When a bone is broken, the body needs calcium to rebuild and bind the bone fragments together. Calcium supplements can help speed up the healing process and heal the wound.

In addition, people with diseases related to the digestive tract will reduce the ability to absorb calcium. Some digestive tract diseases such as enteritis, celiac disease, lactose intolerance can reduce the intestine's ability to absorb calcium, leading to calcium deficiency and bone complications. People with digestive tract diseases should supplement calcium according to the instructions of a doctor or pharmacist.

How to prevent calcium deficiency

Although calcium is essential, the body cannot produce calcium on its own and must be supplied through diet or supplements. However, not everyone needs calcium supplements, because excess calcium can inhibit the absorption of other substances such as iron and zinc, thereby putting the body at risk of deficiency of these two substances.

On the other hand, excess calcium also causes kidney overload. If you continue to supplement more than your body's needs for a long time, it will increase the risk of ureteral stones and kidney stones.

When taking an overdose of calcium, the body will show symptoms such as thirst, frequent urination, nausea, heart rhythm disturbances... When the above symptoms appear, all sources of calcium and vitamin D must be stopped and a doctor must be seen immediately for treatment.

After visiting a reputable medical facility and being diagnosed with calcium deficiency, the doctor will recommend different treatments, depending on the severity of the calcium deficiency and the cause of the condition.

To avoid calcium deficiency, you need to choose calcium-rich foods every day such as: Milk and dairy products (eg butter, cheese, yogurt...) are the most important and common sources of calcium.

In addition, it is necessary to have a varied diet, using foods rich in calcium such as: Milk and dairy products; shrimp, crab, fish, snails; eggs, especially egg yolks; sesame, soybeans, wood ear mushrooms; green leafy vegetables such as Malabar spinach, amaranth, celery, water spinach...

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/6-doi-tuong-de-bi-thieu-canxi-nen-bo-sung-172240620160354121.htm