Calcium is one of the most important and most abundant chemical elements in the body. Calcium is found in bones, muscles, nerve cells, endocrine glands, excretory organs, the blood system and other tissues, which indicates the enormous biological role of this macronutrient.
Physiological calcium levels are required for:
Maintaining cardiac activity (heart rate, heart muscle contraction);
Muscle work (contractions of skeletal muscles and smooth muscles of internal organs);
Preservation of bone density;
Complete blood clotting;
Conducting a nerve impulse by nerve cells;
Normal work of the glands (removal of secretions from the glandular cell into the blood or ducts);
The course of various biochemical processes and reactions at the cellular level;
Correct reproduction of cells and distribution of genetic material between them.
Normally, the calcium content in the blood is 2.15 - 2.5 mmol / l. A change in this indicator, even by a small value, can have serious consequences for the body. An increase in the concentration of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia) is caused by:
Loss of fluid by the body during vomiting, diarrhea, polyuria;
Overdose with calcium or vitamin D3 preparations;
Increased levels of thyroid and parathyroid hormones;
Impaired renal function;
Destruction of bones by tumor processes.
High levels of calcium lead to its accumulation in many organs with the formation of calcifications (in soft tissues), lime deposits (in blood vessels), "sand" or stones (gall bladder, kidneys, bladder). Hypercalcemia may indicate the presence of osteoporosis, when calcium is leached from the bones into the blood. An increase in serum calcium is accompanied by:
Increased fatigue;
Muscle pain;
Slowdown of neuropsychic and cognitive processes;
Reflux disease, ulcers on the mucous membranes;
Nausea, vomiting;
Violation of the heart rhythm;
Frequent inflammatory processes on the skin and mucous membranes.
With a lack of calcium in the blood, similar symptoms may occur, but the leading sign of hypocalcemia is convulsions. In addition, calcium deficiency leads to:
Reducing blood clotting;
Decrease in bone strength (low resistance to fractures, defects in tooth enamel);
Developmental pathologies in children.
Causes of hypocalcemia:
Deficiency of vitamin D and magnesium;
Albumin protein deficiency;
Insufficient intake of calcium from food (including abnormal absorption of calcium in the intestine);
Decreased function of the thyroid and parathyroid glands (violation of parathyroid hormone metabolism);
Inflammatory diseases of the kidneys and pancreas;
Metastatic bone disease associated with calcification of the affected areas;
Overdose or long-term use of drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis.
To prevent a decrease in the level of calcium in the blood, it is necessary to ensure a sufficient intake of it with food. The daily intake of calcium is about 1000 mg, depending on gender, age and other characteristics. A biochemical blood test for calcium is performed in the presence of any symptoms indicating hypo- or hypercalcemia, as well as in the case of taking medications that affect the metabolism of this macronutrient in the body.
