Normal calcium content of adult body is about 1,5 kg: 99% in bones and teeth and 1% in soft tissues and body fluids.
Sources of calcium:
The richest sources: milk,cheese and other sources as: shellfish,canned fish,some green vegetables,sesame.
Absorption of dietary calcium:
Vitamin D is needed for absorption in the intestine.
Extent of absorption is influenced by:
-the quality of diet (better absorption with animal protein diet).
-calcium ratio in diet.
-gastric acidity.
Physiologic Role:
Calcium and phosphorum are the main elements of bone and teeth,they are needed for normal growth,development and maintenance.
Blood calcium is essential for normal clotting of blood.
Calcium contributes to normal functioning of motor nerve and prevention of nerve irritability.
Calcium regulates pulse and contraction heart.
Calcium Deficiency:
Calcium deficiency cause deficiency disease and metabolic disorder of bone:
1.Rickets: affects young children.it is principally caused by vitamin D deficiency that affects absorption and metabolism of calcium.
2.Osteomalacia: affects adults specially multiarous (many pregnancies) mothers.
3.Osteoporosis: due to multiple causes related to bone density and loss of bone substance,including deficiency of calcium,phosphorus and vitamin D.
4.Tetany: due to severe calcium deficiency,that leads to hypocalcemia that causes increased irritability of motor nerves.
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