Calcium Deficiency

Calcium supports immune function, and administering calcium to children during fevers was observed to resolve them quickly. Calcium deficiency symptoms overlap significantly with potassium and magnesium deficiency, making accurate diagnosis difficult. The article cautions that calcium's role in the body is complex and not simply a matter of deficiency. Calcium deficiency is less common in the general population than calcium excess. Calcium channel blockers, prescribed for high blood pressure, can create drug-induced calcium deficiency. Calcium deficiency is more often caused by impaired absorption or utilization than by insufficient dietary intake. Calcium functions as a signaling molecule between nerve cells in addition to its structural roles in muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments. A vitamin D deficiency can cause a secondary calcium deficiency even when dietary calcium intake is adequate. A person can have insufficient calcium available in areas where it is physiologically needed. Calcium is essential for muscle contraction and relaxation, and deficiency can produce cramping. Inflammatory bowel conditions including IBS, diverticulitis, and Crohn's disease significantly reduc…