For those of you who thought that taking supplemental calcium was only good for preventing osteoporosis, think again. Calcium is a multifaceted mineral. It happens to be the most abundant mineral in our bodies. Aside from the obvious function in bone metabolism, calcium is also an essential element to maximize enzyme activity. In addition it is also actively involved in nerve function and helps to regulate heart rhythm and contraction of muscles. Low calcium intake has not only been associated with osteoporosis, but also can contribute to hypertension and even colon cancer.
The benefit of calcium now extends to a completely new arena, which is cholesterol metabolism. In a recent study published in the prestigious American Journal of Medicine, 223 women were randomly assigned to take either 1 gram (1,000 mg) of calcium daily in the form of calcium citrate or an inactive placebo for one year. Investigators measured levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and HDL (good) cholesterol at the onset of study and again then periodically over the twelve months. At the end of the trial, HDL cholesterol and HDL to LDL ratios had increased more among women taking the calcium supplement compared to those taking placebo.
On average, the women who took calcium supplementation saw an increase of their HDL cholesterol levels of about 7%. The authors of this study indicate that this is but another reason to encourage post menopausal women to take calcium. Further studies are suggested to see if similar benefits are obtained with men and if calcium supplementation can have any effect on reducing the risk of heart attack. It is very important to include magnesium in your calcium supplement. Most people consume only about half of the RDA/DV of magnesium in their diets. Low levels of magnesium can lead to osteoporosis, heart arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death.
The benefit of calcium now extends to a completely new arena, which is cholesterol metabolism. In a recent study published in the prestigious American Journal of Medicine, 223 women were randomly assigned to take either 1 gram (1,000 mg) of calcium daily in the form of calcium citrate or an inactive placebo for one year. Investigators measured levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and HDL (good) cholesterol at the onset of study and again then periodically over the twelve months. At the end of the trial, HDL cholesterol and HDL to LDL ratios had increased more among women taking the calcium supplement compared to those taking placebo.
On average, the women who took calcium supplementation saw an increase of their HDL cholesterol levels of about 7%. The authors of this study indicate that this is but another reason to encourage post menopausal women to take calcium. Further studies are suggested to see if similar benefits are obtained with men and if calcium supplementation can have any effect on reducing the risk of heart attack. It is very important to include magnesium in your calcium supplement. Most people consume only about half of the RDA/DV of magnesium in their diets. Low levels of magnesium can lead to osteoporosis, heart arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death.
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