Colorado Health Care

Calcium is a mineral needed for bone deposition at the growth stage and to regulate diverse cellular responses in which work mainly as a second mensajero1. In the various life cycles of human physiological needs is a major ore especially in pregnancy and adolescence, while in the elderly with deficiency states and osteoporosis risk is also important for preventive purposes.

The recommendations of calcium intake during pregnancy vary widely among countries even with similar populations, with increased intake on the pregnant woman goes from zero to 800 mg / day or more. One reason for this variability is due to the substantial differences in average calcium intake among countries. Intakes of 200-500 mg / day are typical of Latin America, Africa and Asia, where milk consumption is low, whereas in northern European countries, North America and Australia is about 1000 mg/día2. In addition, calcium diets derived mainly from plant foods may have compounds that interfere with calcium absorption and reduce its bioavailability.

How can some degree of adaptation occur in groups that typically consume diets low in calcium, often expert committees take into account the average consumption of the mineral to fix the recommendations consistent with this and therefore these recommendations would apply only to groups consuming a specific diet in a certain region.

Another reason for the variability in calcium recommendations are due to the current state of ignorance about the mineral requirements for human reproduction and lactation. In general, these have been calculated by adding to the non-pregnant women or infants, the amount covering the cost of calcium for fetal growth and milk production. However, it is possible that alterations in the absorption and excretion mediated by metabolic changes, may compensate for these extra needs without requiring major changes in diet. (more…)