What is calcium and what is it good for?

Calcium is an essential mineral that plays an important role in our bodies. It is necessary for maintaining strong bones and teeth, and also plays a role in muscle functions, nerve transmission, and regulating heart rate.

Calcium is an essential mineral that plays a crucial role in our bodies. It is mainly known for its contribution to strong bones and teeth, but it also affects muscle functions, nerve transmission and helps regulate heart rate.

How do you measure calcium in your blood?

Calcium in the blood can be measured with a blood test that is often part of a standard health examination. This test measures how much calcium is in your blood, which can help detect various health problems.

The relationship between calcium, vitamin D3, and other blood tests

Vitamin D3 plays an important role in calcium absorption. Without enough vitamin D3, our body cannot effectively absorb the calcium from our diet. Therefore, the amount of vitamin D3 in the blood is often measured to make sure you have enough to use the calcium you consume.

Calcium, vitamin K2 and mitochondria

Vitamin K2 helps with the distribution of calcium in the body: it ensures that calcium gets to the right places, such as your bones, and not where it doesn't belong, such as in your arteries. The mitochondria, the energy factories of cells, also use calcium for various processes, including energy production.

What do high or low calcium levels mean?

• High calcium levels may indicate conditions such as hyperparathyroidism (overactive parathyroid glands). Symptoms may include fatigue, excessive thirst and frequent urination, bone pain and digestive problems.
• Low calcium levels can lead to hypocalcemia, with symptoms such as muscle cramps, tingling in the fingers, and in severe cases, heart problems.

How can you prevent or improve calcium levels?

• For high values: Reduce intake of calcium-rich foods and vitamin D supplements, and consult a physician for specific treatment.
• For low values: Ensure adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D, through diet or supplements. Foods rich in calcium include dairy products, green leafy vegetables and nuts.

If you could have too little calcium (Hypocalcemia):

1. Blood test for calcium - This test looks at how much calcium is in your blood. Calcium is very important for strong bones and teeth, and for your muscles and nerves.

2. Ionic calcium - This measures only the calcium that is not attached to anything else in your blood. This gives a very precise picture of how much calcium is active in your body.

3. Magnesium test - Because magnesium and calcium work together in your body, it is good to also check how much magnesium you have. Sometimes too little magnesium can also cause you to have too little calcium.

4. Vitamin D test - Vitamin D helps your body extract calcium from your food. Not having enough vitamin D may also mean you don't have enough calcium.

5. Kidney function tests - These tests look to see if your kidneys are working properly. Your kidneys help to maintain the calcium in your body.

For anyone who thinks their calcium levels are not optimal, it is a good idea to get a blood test. This can help create a personalized plan to improve your health.

these surveys you can put together:

If you could have too much calcium (hypoparathyroidism):

1. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) test - This hormone regulates calcium in your blood. If this test shows that you have too much PTH, it may be the reason you also have too much calcium.

2. Calcium test - As with too little calcium, this test measures how much calcium you have in your blood. Too much calcium can cause problems.

3. Phosphate levels - PTH lowers the amount of phosphate in your blood. If your phosphate is low, it may indicate a problem with the parathyroid glands.

4. Vitamin D levels - These are often low if your parathyroid glands are too active. It is good to check this as well.

Vitamin D 25 OH (25-Hydroxyvitamin D)

• What it measures: This test measures the main storage form of vitamin D in the body, known as 25-hydroxyvitamin D. It is the most widely used test to determine if someone has enough vitamin D.
• Importance in calcium regulation: Vitamin D is crucial for the absorption of calcium from the intestines. An adequate amount of 25 OH D allows your body to absorb enough calcium, which is important for strong bones and healthy calcium balance.
• When to test: This test is often recommended if you have symptoms of vitamin D deficiency (such as bone pain and muscle weakness), or if you have conditions that can affect vitamin D absorption, such as certain intestinal disorders or if you are taking medications that affect vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D 1,25 OH (1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D)

• What it measures: This is the active form of vitamin D in the body, produced in the kidneys from 25 OH D. This form helps regulate calcium in your blood.
• Importance in calcium regulation: 1,25 OH D helps to regulate calcium levels in the blood by increasing calcium absorption in the intestines, promoting calcium recovery in the kidneys and stimulating calcium release from the bones.
• When to test: This test is performed less frequently and is usually specific for people who have health problems involving the parathyroid glands or kidneys, such as hyperparathyroidism or kidney disease. It is useful to determine if the parathyroid glands are producing too much of parathyroid hormone, leading to excessive levels of this active form of vitamin D.

The combination of these two tests provides a complete picture of how your body manages and uses vitamin D to maintain calcium balance. If you have any of the conditions that may affect your calcium or vitamin D levels, it may be a good idea to have these levels tested and consult with your doctor about the results and possible treatments.

In addition to blood tests, it is also useful to measure calcium in your urine

Urine calcium test - This looks at how much calcium you are excreting. This can help see if your body is trying to get rid of too much calcium.