The Consequences of Calcium Deficiencies

Calcium deficiency is usually due to an inadequate supply or a failure in metabolism of calcium. Calcium, the main structural element of bones and teeth, is one of the most important minerals that helps in the growth and maintenance and reproduction of the human body. In addition to helping to maintain bone and dental health, calcium is also involved in a wide variety of other functions, including blood coagulation, the transmission of nerve impulses, muscle contraction and relaxation, normal heartbeat, stimulation of hormone secretion and the activation of enzyme reactions.

When blood calcium levels drop too low, the vital mineral is “borrowed” from the bones. It is returned to the bones from calcium supplied through the diet. If an individual’s diet is low in calcium, there may not be sufficient amounts of the element available in the blood to be returned to the bones … leading to a net loss in bone mass, a condition called osteopenia . Osteopenia can lead to osteoporosis, or porous bone. Osteoporosis is responsible for 1.5 million bone fractures in the U.S. every year.

The Problem of Calcium Deficiency is Serious

Low calcium intake is recognized as a major public health problem in the United States, with more than 75 percent of Americans not meeting the current calcium recommendations for their age/gender group, putting them at risk for osteoporosis. The top priority of the Surgeon General, Vice Admiral Richard Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., is to prevent debilitation and premature mortality from all causes, including bone disease and injury. Concerns about the large toll that osteoporosis — by far the most common bone disease — is inflicting on the nation led Dr. Carmona to release The Surgeon General's Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis on October 14, 2004.

Because osteoporosis is largely preventable, The Surgeon General's Report on Osteoporosis and Bone Health details the need for a greater public health focus on osteoporosis — even among racial and ethnic minorities, men, children and adolescents and the frail elderly. It also addresses the pressing issue of inadequate calcium consumption.

The Consequences of Untreated Calcium Deficiency

Low calcium intake is associated with the risk of osteoporosis, colon cancer and hypertension.

Osteoporosis is a major public health threat for an estimated 44 million Americans, or 55 percent of people 50 years of age and older and is responsible for more than 1.5 million fractures annually. Ten million individuals are estimated to have osteoporosis today and almost 34 million more are estimated to have low bone mass (or osteopenia), placing them at increased risk for the disease in the future.

Taking calcium supplements helps prevent the recurrence of polyps in the colon, a risk factor for colorectal cancer. In a well-controlled clinical trial, published in the Journal of The National Cancer Institute, calcium supplements reduced the advanced polyps growth which is most strongly associated with invasive colorectal cancer. While it’s not known exactly how the calcium may help prevent the polyps, researchers speculate that calcium prevents the irritating and cancer-promoting effect of bile acids and other fats in the bowel. To help reduce the risk of colon cancer you should follow the dietary recommendations for daily calcium intake.

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, can occur in children or adults. It affects about 50 million — or 1 in 4 — adult Americans and is especially common among African Americans and older people. Uncontrolled hypertension directly increases the risk of coronary heart disease — which can potentially lead to heart attack.

Studies show an association in women who have a calcium intake of 800 mg/day or more have a 23 percent lower risk of developing high blood pressure than women with an intake of 400 mg/day or less. The benefits of calcium are even greater among pregnant women. Controlled trials in women with habitually low calcium intakes have found that women who consume between 1500 - 2000 mg/day of calcium reduce their risk of developing pregnancy-induced hypertension by as much as 50 percent. It has also been shown that maternal calcium intake positively affects the infant's blood pressure. In one clinical trial, women with high calcium intakes gave birth to babies with higher birth weights and lower blood pressures. This lower pressure persisted throughout at least the first five years of life.


The Importance of the Calcium and Magnesium Balance


Calcium is probably the most highly publicized mineral — essential for the young to grow, and the old to maintain; but, this nutrient is nothing without its sister mineral, magnesium. More important than consuming enough of one or the other is the calcium and magnesium balance.
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Why We Need Calcium and Magnesium

Calcium and magnesium are macrominerals. They are required by the body in large quantities, even stored to some degree in bone and soft tissue to be drawn upon for later use, calcium more so than magnesium. Both of these essential nutrients are used for a number of reasons, many of which are connected.

Broccoli Is High in CalciumCalcium, found in large quantities in the bone, is the primary mineral for strong bones and teeth. It is also needed for regulating the heartbeat, for the transmission of nerve impulses, for muscle tissue and some enzyme activity. Calcium is the mineral that helps form blood clots when necessary, and allows for the flow of nutrients in and out of cell membranes. Without it, we tend to have joint problems, tooth decay, brittle bones and nails, heart palpitations, high blood cholesterol, insomnia, even depression.

Magnesium also is vital for healthy bones, as this mineral regulates calcium absorption into the bones. It is a catalyst in hundreds of biochemical reactions, stimulates energy production on the cellular level, protects artery walls from blood pressure shifts, and helps the adrenals run smoothly. Over time, a magnesium deficiency can Almonds Are a Good Source of Magnesiumlead to high blood pressure, serious heart problems, asthma and depression.

While both of these minerals are essential, the calcium and magnesium balance is just as important.
How These Minerals Work Together

Together, calcium and magnesium promote a state of optimum health, and equilibrium. For example, calcium stimulates nerves, which magnesium works to calm. For wound healing, calcium helps to form blood clots, while magnesium promotes the flow of blood to prevent excessive clotting, which can lead to atherosclerosis. Muscles are able to contract because of calcium, and relax with magnesium.

The correct ratio is needed for a proper stress response. With stress, blood pressure rises, the heart beats faster, muscles become ready, and, calcium, which is normally present on the outside, floods the cell. This upsets the mineral balance. As the stress subsides, magnesium again becomes the dominant mineral within, and calcium flows back outside. When there is not enough magnesium present in the first place, the stress response reaction can be triggered easily, leading to irritability, and a reactive mood.

Calcium has long been prescribed for the prevention of osteoporosis and arthritis, two common degenerative diseases. Magnesium has not been. An excess of calcium without magnesium leads to calcium deposits, which can form anywhere in the body, eventually threatening well-being. Magnesium is needed to balance calcium; it offsets the formation of calcium deposits by stimulating the production of calcitonin, a hormone that increases the presence of calcium in the bones. At the same time, it suppresses the parathyroid hormone, which takes calcium from the bones to soft tissue.

On a cellular level, magnesium prevents the calcification of mitochondria, the energy-engine of the cell. When a cell produces energy, it uses the calcium pump, which is located at the cell membrane. This pump needs magnesium to operate properly. If there is insufficient magnesium, a small amount of energy is produced, and the pump becomes less and less efficient, until eventually the mitochondria becomes calcified, and the cell ages. This calcification process, over great periods of time, extends to soft tissue, and eventually stimulates aging and degeneration of the whole body. Together, however, the two minerals promote heathy energy production at the cellular level. Without equilibrium, they are destructive.
The Correct Calcium to Magnesium Ratio

The National Academy of Sciences recommends a bare minimum of 1,000 milligrams per day of calcium, although because of limited absorption, twice as much can be taken. The recommended daily amount of magnesium is around 400 milligrams. For equilibrium, the body needs a ratio of 2:1 of calcium to magnesium.

The body easily stores excess calcium, but magnesium is quickly eliminated, so it is rare to have an excess of this mineral in the body. Calcium needs vitamin D, and the correct amount of magnesium, to be utilized. An excess of alcohol, soda, zinc, fluoride, vitamin D and calcium, all increase the need for magnesium.

Green leafy vegetables are one of the best sources of both. Calcium is also found in dairy, oats and soy. Magnesium is found in many foods — in nuts, seafood, meat, avocados, bananas, soy, peaches, figs, brown rice and garlic. The benefits of these two minerals come not only from their specific roles within the body, but from the harmony from the calcium and magnesium balance.
References

Balch, Phyllis. "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." Fourth Edition (Penguin Group, 2006).

Magnesium Health Watch

Evers, Dr. H. Ray. "Magnesium Linked to Aging Mystery and Calcifications."




Basic Ratios and Their Meaning

Balance in all phases of life is critically important to maintain health and this principle applies to mineral levels in hair analyses.
What is a mineral ratio? A pure number consisting of one mineral level divided by a second mineral level. Mineral ratios are often more important in determining nutritional deficiencies and excesses than mineral levels alone, although both are important and should be considered together. The understanding of mineral ratios is extremely exciting and much more revealing than analyzing mineral levels alone.

The Importance Of Ratios
• Ratios are often more important than levels.
• Ratios represent homeostatic balances.
• Ratios are indicative of disease trends. These are not diagnostic but are research associations.
• Ratios are frequently predictive of future metabolic dysfunctions or hidden metabolic dysfunctions.
• The following ratios apply only to tests run at Analytical Research Labs.
Other labs may wash the hair in various ways, or use other laboratory instruments or procedures which will result in different mineral values. If you must evaluate a test from another lab, attempt to get another hair analysis test from Analytical Research as soon as practically possible.
• Ratios can be used to chart progress. However, one must consider all the important ratios, as well as mineral levels, symptoms and signs.
Frequently, one or more ratios will look worse on a retest. This doesn't necessarily mean that the patient's health status is worse.
• The following five (5) ratios are the most important for evaluation purposes:
The Basic Mineral Ratios
Calcium/Magnesium (Ca/Mg) Ratio:
• Referred to as the blood-sugar ratio
• Normal ratio is 6.67:1
• Calcium is required for the release of insulin from the pancreas
• Magnesium inhibits insulin secretion
• Magnesium is necessary to keep calcium in solution
Trends Associated with the Calcium/Magnesium Ratio:
Ratio: Trend:
12+ Diabetes
10 - 12 Hypoglycemia
6.67 - 10 Good
6.67 IDEAL
3.3 - 6.67 Good
3 - 3.3 Hypoglycemia
1 - 3.3 Diabetes
Also, a very high (greater than 16.0) or very low calcium/magnesium ratio (less than 2.0) is associated with mental or emotional disturbances.
Factors which may Modify the Interpretation of the Ratio:
• Calcium or magnesium loss will raise the levels temporarily
• Cortisone therapy will lower calcium levels
• Cortisone therapy will raise both sodium and potassium levels
• Lead and cadmium toxicity will displace calcium
Sodium/Potassium (Na/K) Ratio:
• Referred to as the life-death ratio because it is so critical
• Related to the sodium pump mechanism, and the electrical potential of cells which is regulated by sodium and potassium levels
• Sodium is normally extracellular, while potassium is normally intracellular. If the ratio of these minerals is unbalanced, it indicates important physiological malfunctions within the cells.
• The sodium/potassium ratio is intimately related to kidney, liver and adrenal gland function, and an imbalanced sodium/potassium ratio is associated with heart, kidney, liver, and immune deficiency diseases.
• The sodium/potassium ratio is intimately linked to adrenal gland function, and the balance between aldosterone (mineralocorticoid) and cortisone (glucocorticoid) secretion.
Trends Associated with Sodium/Potassium Ratio:
Ratio: Trend:
6.+ Severe elevation - inflammation and adrenal imbalance. High ratio can also be associated with asthma, allergies, kidney and liver problems. A high sodium/potassium ratio is considered preferable to a low sodium/potassium ratio.
4 - 6 Moderate elevation - tendency towards inflammation
2.5 - 4 Mild elevation - good adrenal function
2.5 IDEAL
2 - 2.5 Mild inversion - beginning of adrenal exhaustion
1 - 2 Moderate inversion - kidney and liver dysfunction, allergies, arthritis, adrenal exhaustion, digestive problems, deficiency of hydrochloric acid.
Below 1 Severe inversion - tendency towards heart attack, cancer, arthritis, kidney and liver disorders.
Factors which may Modify the Interpretation of the Ratio:
• Mercury or cadmium toxicity, or an elimination of these metals can affect the sodium/potassium ratio.
• Sometimes a sodium/potassium ratio will be worse on a retest, but the patient feels better. This is because some other mineral or mineral ratio on the chart has improved, such as the elimination of cadmium or copper, or normalization of another ratio. The elimination of a heavy toxic metal is the most common cause of a sodium/potassium inversion, on a retest chart.
• Occasionally a sodium or potassium loss can occur.
Calcium/Potassium (Ca/K) Ratio:
• Called the thyroid ratio because calcium and potassium play a vital role in regulating thyroid activity.
• Does not always correlate with blood thyroid tests because hair analysis is a tissue test. Often blood tests will be normal but hair analysis will indicate an impaired thyroid function. Sometimes symptoms of hypothyroidism may be evident, but the hair test will show a hyperactive thyroid ratio. For nutritional correction, it is prudent to follow the hair analysis indication.
Ideal Calcium/Potassium Ratio is 4:1:
• A calcium/potassium ratio of less than 4:1 is indicative of increased thyroid activity.
• The thyroid gland is one of the major glands which regulate metabolic rate in the body. A hyperactive thyroid is associated with fast metabolism.
• When the thyroid (and adrenal) ratios are not normal, the efficiency of energy production in the body decreases. It is like an engine that is turning too slow or too fast - power output declines
Symptoms of Reduced Thyroid Activity Include:
• Tendency to gain weight
• Cold hands and feet - tendency to feel cold
• Lack of sweating
• Fatigue
• Dry skin and dry hair
• Tendency towards constipation
Symptoms of Overactive Thyroid Activity Include:
• Excessive sweating
• Hyperactivity, irritability
• Nervousness
• Oily hair and skin
• Occasional tendency towards frequent bowel movements or diarrhea during times of stress
Trends Associated with the Calcium/Potassium Ratio:
Ratio: Trend:
32+ Severe low thyroid activity 75%+ energy loss
16 - 32 Sluggish thyroid 50-75% energy loss
8 - 16 Moderate sluggish thyroid 25-50% energy loss
4 - 8 Mild sluggish thyroid activity 10-25% energy loss
4 IDEAL - 100% energy
2 - 4 Mild fast thyroid activity 10-25% energy loss
1 - 2 Moderate fast thyroid activity 25-50% energy loss
Below 1 Excessive thyroid activity 50% or more energy loss
Sodium/Magnesium (Na/Mg) Ratio:
• Referred to as the adrenal ratio because sodium levels are directly associated with adrenal gland function. Aldosterone, a mineral corticoid adrenal hormone, regulates retention of sodium in the body. In general, the higher the sodium level, the higher the aldosterone level.
• The sodium/magnesium ratio is also a measure of energy output, because the adrenal glands are a major regulator (along with the thyroid gland) of the rate of metabolism.
Ideal Sodium/Magnesium Ratio is 4.17:1:
• The sodium/magnesium ratio is a tissue reading and will often not match blood tests for adrenal hormones. Usually the blood tests will be normal, but the tissue mineral test will show abnormal adrenal function.
Symptoms, however, usually correlate well with the hair analysis.
Symptoms of Underactive Adrenal Glands Include:
• Fatigue, or diminished stamina
• Depression
• Hypoglycemia
• Weight fluctuations
• Poor digestion - diminished ability to tolerate fats and meat protein
• Allergies
Symptoms of Overactive Adrenal Glands Include:
• Tendency to inflammation and inflammatory reactions
• Increased stamina and drive
• Aggressiveness, impulsiveness
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Type A personality
Trends Associated with the Sodium/Magnesium Ratio:
Ratio: Trend:
16+ Extremely overactive adrenals 50% or more energy loss
8 - 16 Moderate excessive adrenals 25-50% energy loss
4.17 - 8 Mild excessive adrenal activity 10-25% energy loss
4.17 IDEAL 100% energy
2 - 4.17 Mild sluggish adrenal activity 10-25% energy loss
1 - 2 Moderate sluggish adrenals 25-50% energy loss
Below 1 Adrenal Insufficiency 50% or more energy loss
Factors which may Modify the Interpretation of the Ratio:
• Sodium levels can be elevated by cadmium, mercury, copper, iron and nickel. An excess of these minerals will raise the sodium level temporarily, although adrenal function may actually be low. Look at every chart for the presence of these metals when evaluating the adrenal ratio.
• Magnesium and sodium are rarely lost through the hair, causing a "false" reading.
Zinc/Copper (Zn/Cu) Ratio:
• Using the zinc/copper ratio is a much more effective method of evaluating zinc and copper readings than considering either copper or zinc levels alone.
Symptoms of High Copper (Excess) and/or Low Zinc (Deficiency) Include:
• Skin problems (acne, psoriasis, slow healing, eczema), emotional instability, "spaciness", detached behavior, schizophrenia, PMS, reproductive problems, prostatitis, menstrual difficulties Depression and fatigue.
Trends Associated with the Zinc/Copper Ratio:
Ratio: Trend:
16+ severe copper deficiency or bio-unavailability of copper
8 - 16 copper deficiency or unavailability
8 IDEAL
4 - 8 copper toxicity
2 - 4 severe copper toxicity - excessive breakdown, emotional instability, zinc deficiency problems such as impotence, slow healing, loss of taste, smell, appetite, and hair loss.
Factors which may Modify the Interpretation of the Ratio:
• A zinc loss can artificially raise the zinc level
• A copper level less than 1.0 often indicates a hidden copper toxicity
• Cadmium toxicity can elevate the zinc reading
Oxidation Types
Definition of Fast Oxidation:
Calcium/Potassium Ratio Less Than 4:1
and
Sodium/Magnesium Ratio Greater Than 4.17:1

Definition of Slow Oxidation:
Calcium/Potassium Ratio Greater Than 4:1
and
Sodium/Magnesium Ratio Less Than 4.17:1

Definition of Mixed Oxidation:
Calcium/Potassium Ratio Greater Than 4:1
and
Sodium/Magnesium Ratio Greater Than 4.17:1
or
Calcium/Potassium Ratio Less Than 4:1
and
Sodium/Magnesium Ratio Less Than 4.17:1

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