Calcium Preparations

It is essential for the functional integrity of the nervous system and muscular system, where it has a major influence on the integrity and excitability of these tissues. It is neccessary for normal cardiac function, and is one of the factor that operates in the mechanisms involved in the coagulation of the blood. Calcium also appears to play a role in maintaining the structural contiguity of cells that are arranged to form a continum - a multicellular membrane. There are many pathological conditions associated with abnormalities of calcium metabolism. Some of these are accompanied by hypocalcemia or hypercalcemia, and still others are found with normal levels of plasma calcium. Calcium deficiency states may be favourably modified by the use of calcium preparations and vitamin D. The body’s needs for calcium are met from food, and the prominent source, is milk and milk products. The calcium intake varies from 200 to 1500 mg of calcium per day.