Calcium
Calcium is the most abundant mineral required by the body as it is crucial for some vital functions. It is essential to understand that the body needs adequate dietary calcium and several other nutrients to develop and keep healthy bones and teeth. Calcium also plays a crucial role in many different systems, such as intracellular signalling to enable the integration or regulation of all metabolic processes.
It is fascinating to know that calcium also plays a significant role in transmitting information through the nervous system. It is the control of muscle contraction and blood clotting. Moreover, it has also been suggested that adequate calcium intake helps lower high blood pressure and help protect against colon cancer.
Along with this, the human skeleton contains more than 99% of the body’s calcium, along with approximately 1kg present in adult bones. Along with this, the significant bone constituents are calcium and phosphate by forming hydroxyapatite is directly associated with a meshwork of collagen fibres to form a rigid structure.
The body’s requirement for calcium fluctuates according to the rate of bone development and protects all vital organs. The skeleton also acts as a ‘bank’ of minerals by which calcium and phosphorus are continually withdrawn or deposited to support physiological requirements.
If the calcium level is low in the body, calcium balance can be achieved. It is essential to know that the calcium status is maintained by balancing calcium absorption from the gut via the kidneys, mobilization, and bone deposition.
The body invests the effort as the small variations in plasma calcium concentrations may lead to severe consequences to the functioning of vital organs as well as health in general. Low blood calcium is known as hypocalcemia. On the other hand, high blood calcium is called hypercalcemia.