Calcium 600 Milligram With Vitamin D is vital for building and keeping healthy and strong bones. In adults, it also plays a role in promoting good muscle health, as well as maintaining normal blood pressure levels. Calcium is a mineral that is naturally found in your body, but can also be consumed via food sources. For adults, the recommended daily allowance of calcium is 1000 milligrams per day.
Do We Really Need Calcium 600 Milligram With Vitamin D?
Calcium serves many functions in the body, but the main one is to form the structures that give our bones and teeth their strength and shape. As we get older, the mineral content (there’s some phosphorus in there as well) of our skeleton declines. Our bones start to thin out bit by bit, so they become less dense, more brittle, and more likely to break. When this thinning advances to a certain point, it’s called osteoporosis. Each year in the United States there are 1.5 million bone fractures associated with osteoporosis, and 250,000 of those breaks will involve a hip.
Negative results
For years, high calcium intake has been portrayed as one of the best things you could do to prevent osteoporosis and related fractures. Research results supported this view, although many of the studies were fairly small and short.
But when researchers started to crunch the data from large, prospective studies that followed people for many years, the benefits weren’t so clear-cut. The ambiguity led to randomized trials of calcium to test what effect it might have on fracture rates.
Uses
This combination medication is used to prevent or treat low blood calcium levels in people who do not get enough calcium from their diets. It may be used to treat conditions caused by low calcium levels such as bone loss (osteoporosis), weak bones (osteomalacia/rickets), decreased activity of the parathyroid gland (hypoparathyroidism), and a certain muscle disease (latent tetany). It may also be used in certain patients to make sure they are getting enough calcium (including women who are pregnant, nursing, or postmenopausal, people taking certain medications such as phenytoin, phenobarbital, or prednisone).Calcium plays a very important role in the body. It is necessary for normal functioning of nerves, cells, muscle, and bone. If there is not enough calcium in the blood, then the body will take calcium from bones, thereby weakening bones. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus. Having the right amounts of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus is important for building and keeping strong bones.
How To Use Calcium 600 Milligram With Vitamin D
Take this medication by mouth with food. If your product contains calcium citrate, then it may be taken with or without food. Follow all directions on the product package, or take as directed by your doctor. For best absorption, if your total daily dose is more than 600 milligrams, then divide your dose and space it throughout the day. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you are using the liquid form of this medication, carefully measure the dose using a special measuring device/spoon. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose.
If you are taking the chewable form of this medication, chew thoroughly before swallowing. If you are taking capsules, swallow each capsule whole.
Do not crush or chew extended-release tablets. Doing so can release all of the drug at once, increasing the risk of side effects. Also, do not split the tablets unless they have a score line and your doctor or pharmacist tells you to do so. Swallow the whole or split tablet without crushing or chewing.
Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day.
If your doctor has recommended that you follow a special diet, it is very important to follow the diet to get the most benefit from this medication and to prevent serious side effects. Do not take other supplements/vitamins unless ordered by your doctor.
Calcium supplements come in different forms that contain different amounts of calcium/vitamin D. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to help select the best product for you.
What roles do calcium and vitamin D play in the body?
Calcium is an essential nutrient needed by all living creatures, including humans. Vitamin D is a prohormone that helps the body absorb calcium, which is essential for bone health.
Bones and teeth contain 99% of the body’s calcium.
Many different foods contain calcium. Manufacturers may also fortify certain food products with calcium and vitamin D. Getting enough sunlight is the best way to help the body create vitamin D.
This article looks at the roles of calcium and vitamin D and their benefits. It also looks at the effects of too much or too little calcium or vitamin D. Finally, it identifies dietary sources of calcium and vitamin D and supplementation options.
Roles of calcium and vitamin D
Calcium is crucial for bone development and growth in children. It is also responsible for the maintenance of strong bones in adults.
As well as its role in bone health, calcium aids in muscle contraction. When a signal arrives at the muscle, calcium is released, helping the muscle to contract. As calcium leaves the muscle, the muscle relaxes.
Calcium also plays a role in effective blood clotting.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the recommended daily amount of calcium by age group is:
- 0–6 months: 200 milligrams (mg)
- 7–12 months: 260 mg
- 1–3 years: 700 mg
- 4–8 years: 1,000 mg
- 9–18 years: 1,300 mg
- 19–70 years: 1,000 mg (1,200 mg for women 51–70 years)
- over 70 years: 1,200 mg
Research suggests that vitamin D also plays a vital role in bone health, as it regulates calcium in the blood. Without vitamin D, the kidneys would excrete too much calcium.
There is growing interest in the role of vitamin D in reducing allergic response and protecting against certain cancers, including colorectal and breast cancer.
Vitamin D also plays an important role in:
- supporting lung function and good cardiovascular health
- insulin regulation and glucose metabolism
- brain, immune, and nervous system health
According to the NIH, the recommended daily amount of vitamin D by age group is:
- 0–12 months: 10 micrograms (mcg), or 400 international units (IU)
- 1–13 years: 15 mcg (600 IU)
- 14–18 years: 15 mcg (600 IU)
- 19–70 years: 15 mcg (600 IU)
- over 70 years: 20 mcg (800 IU)
- pregnant and breastfeeding women: 15 mcg (600 IU)
As well as its crucial role in bone health, calcium may also reduce the risks associated with high blood pressure.
A 2019 article in the journal Nutrients suggests that calcium may help lower blood pressure. Another study from 2020, involving 136,249 participants, suggests that calcium has a protective effect against colorectal cancer. However, research on this is still in the early stages.
Appropriate levels of calcium and vitamin D can also support a healthy pregnancy. A recent review shows an association between higher vitamin D levels and lower risk of preeclampsia and premature birth.
Due to its role in insulin regulation and glucose metabolism, vitamin D can support effective diabetes management.
Too much calcium may cause constipation. High levels of calcium can also interfere with iron and zinc absorption.
High calcium levels rarely come from dietary sources. They are most likely due to excessive supplementation.
High levels of calcium from supplementation may increase a person’s risk of kidney stones.
Some studies show a link between high levels of calcium and increased risk of heart disease, but others found no association.
Some studies also show that high levels of calcium may increase prostate cancer risk.
Too little calcium in the body is known as hypocalcemia. Over time, a calcium deficiency may result in the following symptoms:
- muscle aches, pains, and cramps
- tingling or numbness in the hands, arms, legs, feet, and around the mouth
- fatigue
- insomnia
- brain fog
- dry skin, nails, and hair
- alopecia
- skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis
- severe PMS
- dental problems
- depression
Those most at risk from low levels of calcium include:
- post-menopausal people
- people of childbearing age with amenorrhea
- people who do not consume dairy products, such as vegans or ovo-vegetarians
- people with lactose intolerance who avoid dairy
Long-term deficiency in calcium or vitamin D can result in osteoporosis, where the bones become more fragile and prone to breaking.
Some studies show a link between increased risk of depression and low levels of vitamin D. However, there is no evidence to show vitamin D supplementation prevents depression or reduces its symptoms.
People at higher risk of low levels of vitamin D include:
- breastfed infants
- people who rarely expose their skin to the sun
- people with darker skin tones
- older adults
- people with conditions that limit fat absorption, such as Crohn’s disease
- people with obesity or who have undergone gastric bypass surgery
Too much vitamin D can be harmful. However, a person cannot get too much vitamin D from sunlight, only from excessive supplementation.
High levels of vitamin D may result in:
- nausea
- vomiting
- muscle weakness
- confusion
- pain
- loss of appetite
- dehydration
- excessive urination and thirst
- kidney stones
Extremely high levels of vitamin D can result in kidney failure, irregular heartbeat, and death.
Calcium is present in several foods. Good dietary sources of calcium include:
- dairy products, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese
- fortified dairy alternatives, such as soy milk
- green leafy vegetables, such as kale, Chinese cabbage, and broccoli
- canned sardines and salmon
- tofu
- fortified products, including breakfast cereals and fruit juices
- nuts and seeds
- legumes
Most grain-based foods, such as bread and pasta, are not rich in calcium. However, they can add a large amount of dietary calcium if consumed regularly and in large amounts.
There are limited dietary sources of vitamin D.
Most dietary sources of vitamin D come from fortified foods. Most milk producers in the United States fortify milk with vitamin D. Manufacturers often add vitamin D to plant-based milk, such as soy, almond, or oat milk.
Manufacturers may also add vitamin D to breakfast cereals, orange juice, yogurt, and margarine.
The following foods provide a limited natural source of vitamin D:
- fatty fish, such as trout, salmon, and mackerel
- beef liver
- egg yolks
- cheese
- mushrooms
Calcium and vitamin D supplements are available in tablet, chewable, and liquid forms.
Calcium supplements usually contain either calcium carbonate or calcium citrate. People should take calcium carbonate with food.
People can take calcium citrate with or without food. Those with absorption issues or conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease should choose calcium citrate.
Some people may experience gastrointestinal issues with calcium supplementation. Taking a supplement with meals and spreading the dose throughout the day may help with these issues.
Vitamin D supplements contain either vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) or vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Both forms are effective, though D3 appears to result in higher levels in the blood.
Supplement manufacturers extract D2 from yeast. D3 can come from:
- lanolin, which comes from wool
- fish oil
- algae oil
People following a vegan diet should check the source of supplements containing D3 or choose supplements containing D2. They should consult with a doctor before taking an over-the-counter supplement.
If someone is very low in vitamin D, they may need a clinical-grade prescription.