Little is known about how Calcium actually works inside our body to prevent bone loss. When the level of Calcium rises in blood, a hormone called Calcitonin encourages the deposition of Calcium in the bones. This in turn, protects our skeleton. However, further research is required to bring out the real story behind the mechanism involved with the prevention of bone loss.
It is better if we know the exact amount of Calcium to be consumed, in order to cope with the problems associated with bone loss. The National Institute of Health (NIH) says that there are many Americans, whose Calcium intake is less than even half the recommended amount essential for building and maintaining healthy bones. To treat and prevent Osteoporosis, the NIH has their recommendations of the amount of Calcium intake –
| Children |
800-1200 mg / day |
| Adolescent
Girls |
1200-1500 mg / day |
Pre-menopausal
Women
( 19 to 50 years old ) |
1000 mg / day |
Older Adults
( 51 to 70 years old ) |
1200-1500 mg / day |
| Older Women |
1500 mg / day, excepting those on Estrogen,
who require 1000 mg / day only.
|
Sources:
1. Calcium Absorption: A Critical process in Maintaining
Healthy Bones by September Nelson, University of Oregon;
International Institute for Sport and Human Performance
National Institutes of Health ( NIH ).
2. Elders, P.J., Lips, P., Netelenvos,
J.C., Van Ginkel, F.C., Khoe, E., Van Der VIjgh, W.J.,
and Van der Stelt, P.F. ( 1994 ). Long-term effect
of calcium supplementation on bone loss in perimenopausal
women; Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 9 ( 7
), 963-970.
3. Ulrich, C.M., Georgiou, C.C.,
Snow Harter, C.M., and Gillis, D.E. ( 1996 ). Bone
mineral density in mother-daughter pairs : Relations
to lifetime exercise, lifetime milk consumption, and
calcium supplements. American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, 63, 72-79.
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