Calcium balance, defficiency diagnosis, muscle crams...

Question
How is low calcium diagnosed?  If a blood test showed that calcium was within range, might that be in range because the calcium is being taken from the bones?  Is it possible to experience muscle cramps and twitches if the blood level is OK even if its only OK because its stolen from the bones.  Or could the cramps be FROM long-term stealing from the bones?

Thank You

Answer
Hello Tom,

The calcium content is measured directly in blood, red cells, or urine or by checking the structure of bones and teeth via X-ray pictures. The bone is the largest calcium depot of the body: 99 percent of calcium is located there so the minute amounts in blood cells just cant take any significant amounts of calcium from the bones.

Usually, the term calcium deficiency is used in connection with bone mineral deficiency because a lack of magnesium can cause problems with calcium balance.

The calcium homeostasis is coordinated by parathyroid hormone, bone, kidney, vitamin D and intestine so that a fall of calcium concentration in tissues is instantly corrected. Excess calcium from bone is transported into the urine but not into any other organ or tissue.

As to the cramps, they can be caused by dehydration, venous failures, capillary insufficiency, magnesium deficiency, etc.

Read more about calcium

Sources of Calcium
http://atkinszone.com/recipes/2008/09/dairy-sources-of-calcium.html
http://atkinszone.com/recipes/2008/09/non-dairy-food-sources-of-calcium.html

Calcium and osteoporosis
http://bantadiet.com/banta/?page_id=17

Tanya Zilberter

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