Studies suggest that calcium deficiency is much more common today than most people realize. Hypocalcemia, or low blood calcium, can trigger a wide range of symptoms, including muscle aches, irregular heartbeat, and fatigue. But what causes hypocalcemia in the first place? Read on to find out.<\/p>\n
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Hypocalcemia is when you have low blood calcium levels <\/strong>(\u201chypo\u201d = low, \u201ccalcemia\u201d = calcium in the blood). This condition can be either transient\/acute or chronic.<\/p>\n You may or may not experience symptoms, depending on the severity of your deficiency. Symptoms can range from barely-noticeable and mild to serious and life-threatening complications. Hypocalcemia can even lead to death if left untreated [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n This is unsurprising given that calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body. Every cell in your body needs it to function. Calcium supports your bones, heart, muscles, and nervous system. But only around 1% of your total body calcium is found in the blood. The remaining 99% is stored in your bones and teeth [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Slightly lower calcium levels will generally not cause any symptoms.<\/p>\n However, more severe deficiency can be accompanied by symptoms such as [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n This post will focus on the causes of calcium deficiency. Read more about the symptoms of calcium deficiency in this post<\/a> and about the calcium blood test here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The normal range for calcium levels in adults is around 8.5 to 10.5 mg\/dL. These values can vary slightly from lab to lab. Hypocalcemia is defined as total blood calcium under 8.5 mg\/dL<\/strong>. If calcium blood levels drop under 7 mg\/dL, hypocalcemia is considered severe [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Serious calcium deficiency is rare. However, a lower-than-recommended dietary intake is common and can cause a mild, chronic deficiency with negative health consequences [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Causes shown below are commonly associated with low calcium levels. Work with your doctor or another health care professional to get an accurate diagnosis. Your doctor will interpret your result, taking into account your medical history, symptoms, and other test results.<\/p>\n If you are suspected of being calcium deficient, your doctor may run more tests to confirm the diagnosis. Possible tests include measurement of magnesium, PTH, phosphate, and vitamin D [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n If you don’t get enough vitamin D (from sun<\/a> or supplements), you can develop hypocalcemia. This is because vitamin D helps absorb calcium in the gut. Vitamin D deficiency is the most common cause of hypocalcemia in primary care<\/strong>. It is estimated that up to 50% of the population may be deficient in vitamin D, so make sure you are getting enough [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Calcium blood levels are tightly controlled by parathyroid hormone<\/strong><\/a> (PTH<\/a>). Cells in your parathyroid gland – located in the neck just behind the thyroid – release PTH when they sense a drop in calcium blood levels [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n PTH raises blood calcium levels by increasing the absorption of calcium from the gut and kidneys. This hormone can also mobilize calcium and phosphate from the bones: that is, it breaks down and frees the mineral content of bones to compensate for low calcium levels. This process is known as bone resorption <\/strong>[R<\/a>].<\/p>\n PTH also increases the amount of vitamin D<\/a> that is converted to its active form, calcitriol<\/a>. Calcitriol <\/a>increases calcium absorption in the gut [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n If PTH levels drop too low, so does calcium.<\/p>\n Hypoparathyroidism or underactive parathyroid gland, is when there are low levels of parathyroid hormone.<\/strong> This condition can occur for several reasons, including [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n It is also possible to have normal levels of PTH but experience the symptoms of low PTH. This condition is known as pseudohypoparathyroidism<\/strong> and happens when cells stop responding to PTH as they should [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n This one is perhaps obvious and self-explanatory. But a large study from 2007 showed that most Americans are not getting the calcium they need [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n People who are lactose intolerant, for example, or have eating disorders are at a higher risk of being calcium deficient [R<\/a>]<\/p>\n Take a look at the recommended daily intake (RDA) of calcium below, and make sure you’re getting enough. If you can\u2019t get enough from your diet, discuss calcium supplements with your doctor.<\/p>\n Be aware that certain substances in your diet can reduce absorption, or increase calcium loss. These include [R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n If you follow a vegan<\/a> diet, you might be at a higher risk of certain nutrient deficiencies<\/a>, including calcium and vitamin D. A carefully-planned vegan diet can be healthy and nutritious. Eat more vegetables high in calcium but low in oxalic acid, which inhibits calcium absorption. Good sources of calcium include [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n Some foods – such as fruit juices, soy or nut milk – are fortified with calcium.<\/p>\n If you follow a paleo-style or carnivore diet<\/a>, you are probably avoiding dairy, soy, and nuts. This leaves you with fewer calcium rich-options. Good calcium sources for people on meat-heavy diets include [R<\/a>, R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n Those on a more liberal paleo diet have additional sources to choose from, including kale, broccoli, bok choy, and other leafy greens.<\/p>\n Below is the RDA for calcium. You should aim to get enough calcium every day, either from food or supplements. Going below the RDA for a short while is unlikely to cause harm, but it can lead to health problems in the long run [R<\/a>].<\/p>\nSymptoms<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Hypocalcemia Causes<\/span><\/h2>\n
1) Vitamin D Deficiency<\/span><\/h3>\n
2) Hypoparathyroidism (Low PTH)<\/span><\/h3>\n
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3) Not Getting Enough Calcium<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Plant-Based Diets<\/h4>\n
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Dairy-free Diets<\/h4>\n
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Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for Calcium<\/h4>\n