Calcium and Vitamin D
Maria A. Fiatarone Singh, John Sutton Chair in Exercise, Nutrition, and the Older Woman, 2000
We tend to think of calcium primarily as a component of bones and teeth. In fact, more than 98% of the approximately 3 pounds of calcium in the body is incorporated into the skeleton where it provides strength and hardness. But this mineral is also essential for the transmission of nerve impulses, contraction of muscle fibers, clotting of blood, and activation of digestive enzymes. Because these functions are critical for life, the body employs several mechanisms in order to keep the blood supply of calcium within strict limits, and vitamin D is involved in each. First, the amount of calcium that is absorbed from the diet will increase or decrease as the need for calcium fluctuates. In addition, the skeleton can act as a reservoir for calcium, releasing the mineral when the blood level drops too low or storing excess calcium for future needs. Also, the body can conserve calcium to some extent by cutting back on the amount that is lost through the urine. Even so, a small amount of calcium will be inescapably lost in urine and sweat every day and must be replaced, either from the diet or from the bones. The exchange of calcium between the bloodstream and the bones is a normal process for the regulation of blood calcium levels. However, if the diet constantly contains too little calcium, the slow but steady drain on the skeleton may eventually compromise the strength of the bones. A habitually low calcium intake has been implicated in the development of osteoporosis, a thinning of the bones that greatly increases the chance of fracture (Holbrook et al., 1988).
Introduction to the Health Benefits of Mediterranean-Style Dietary Patterns
John J.B. Anderson, Marilyn C. Sparling in The Mediterranean Way of Eating, 2014
The second example is calcium, a mineral needed in large quantities on a daily basis. The amount of calcium needed each day, although not precisely established, is considered to be about 1,000 milligrams per day (mg/day) for adults—after skeletal growth has ceased. The major food group that provides large amounts of calcium is dairy, but vegans and other individuals who do not consume milk or milk-based products may find it difficult to obtain sufficient daily intakes of calcium. Fortunately, a number of other calcium-containing food sources are available, including dark-green, leafy vegetables, calcium-fortified orange juice, and calcium-set tofu. Adults who do not consume an adequate amount of calcium may be increasing their risks of developing osteoporosis late in life. On the other hand, consuming more calcium than the recommended amounts may pose other health risks, such as calcification of arteries and renal stones.
Probiotics, Vitamin D, and Vitamin D Receptor in Health and Disease
Marcela Albuquerque Cavalcanti de Albuquerque, Alejandra de Moreno de LeBlanc, Jean Guy LeBlanc, Raquel Bedani in Lactic Acid Bacteria, 2020
The prescription of vitamin supplements is a good strategy to increase the circulating VitD, but clinicians should be cautious. High VitD doses, that have been associated with errors in the formulation and excessively fortified dairy products intake, can be toxic and lead to hypercalciuria. In this condition, the excretion of calcium through the urinary tract is increased, inducing kidney stones in some cases, or in worse scenarios, hypercalcemia is developed, when the concentration of calcium in the blood stream is high, and the patients usually report symptoms like fatigue, muscle weakness, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, soft tissue calcification, and tachycardia (Jacobus et al. 1992, Holick 2003, Pilz et al. 2018). In addition, increased levels of 25(OH)D seems to be related to an increased risk of falls and fractures, pancreatic and prostate cancer, and mortality (Wortsman et al. 2000, Sanders et al. 2010).
Sample management for clinical biochemistry assays: Are serum and plasma interchangeable specimens?
Published in Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, 2018
Gabriel Lima-Oliveira, Denis Monneret, Fabrice Guerber, Gian Cesare Guidi
Variability between serum and plasma from different brands of evacuated tubes. (a) TP – total protein; (b) TRANS – transferrin; (c) HPT – haptoglobin; (d) AAT – α1-antitrypsin; (e) C3 – complement C3; (f) IgG – immunoglobulin G; (g) IgM – immunoglobulin M; (h) IgA – immunoglobulin A; (i) HDL – high density lipoprotein-cholesterol; (j) PHOS – phosphate; (k) Ca – calcium; (l) K – potassium; (m) ALP – alkaline phosphatase; (n) AMYL – amylase; (o) ALT – alanine aminotransferase; (p) GGT – gamma-glutamyltransferase; (q) LD – lactate dehydrogenase; (r) CK – creatine kinase; (s) CRE – creatinine. Serum vs. plasma from different brands of evacuated tubes (x-axis) are plotted against bias values (y-axis). Solid line – bias. Dashed lines – acceptable criteria based on desirable specification for imprecision (DSI) derived from biologic variation for each analyte.
Effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide treatments in preventing biofilm clogging in drip irrigation systems applying treated wastewater
Published in Biofouling, 2022
Nathan Japhet, Jorge Tarchitzky, Yona Chen
The dominant element of all deposits was calcium (Ca). Its presence could be due to precipitation as calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate. Other elements observed were aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P) and silicon (Si). As seen in Figure 9a, certain elements’ percentages drop along the pipe lateral, such as Ca for both treatments, Mg in the Control_ST treatment and Fe and P in the Control_TT treatment. This is probably due to the precipitation of these elements in the B and M sections of the pipe as salts and oxides. While in the Control_ST treatment, the amount of Si also drops as a function of pipe length, in the Control_TT treatment the Si levels do not drop. As seen in Figure 9b, the tertiary treatments display high levels of Si and Al in comparison to the secondary treatments. The presence of aluminosilicates in the tertiary deposits was expected; these aluminosilicates certainly played a role in the drop of emitter FR of the tertiary treatments. The tertiary treatments also displayed higher amounts of Fe, Mg and P than the secondary treatments.
Environmental toxic metals in placenta and their effects on preterm delivery-current opinion
Published in Drug and Chemical Toxicology, 2020
Laxmi Singh, Madhu Anand, Saroj Singh, Ajay Taneja
Lead (Pb) is listed as the second most noxious substance among 275 chemicals, even at low concentrations of 2 mg/dL, by Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) which is a component agency of the US. CDC and US. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). World Health Organization (WHO) established a limit value of 0.05 mg/l for Pb in drinking water (Kumar and Puri 2012). But, to date, there is no threshold value of lead in blood for infants and child (CDC 2005). This substance is potentially harmful to reproductive health, and is generally present in water, food, air, soil, and dust. Generally, Pb enters in childbearing population through three ways, namely inhalation, ingestion and dermal absorption. Research has shown that more than 90% of Pb in human bones accumulates during childhood (Nordberg et al.1991). Calcium is an essential element for bone development, teeth, muscles and maintenance throughout life. According to National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, about 90% women do not take recommended amount of calcium and thus leading to Ca deficiency. During pregnancy, deficiency of calcium is directly associated with adverse effects on maternal bone health and has been clearly identified as a main source of fetal Pb exposure (Gulson et al. 2003). Moreover, Faikoglu et al. (2006) found Ca is not properly supplied through process of mobilization in childbearing population meet the high demands, In this case, usually co-mobilization take place through with stored Pb in maternal bones i.e the primary route for fetus exposure.
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