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Diet
& Nutrition Calcium
What
is Calcium?
Calcium is a critical nutrient which makes up approximately 1kg of the
average adult's body weight. Over 99 per cent of calcium in the body is
stored in the bones and teeth with the remaining one per cent stored in
the blood and cellular fluids..
The body stores the calcium in two
ways:
one way is an exchangeable pool
which allows the calcium tobe released into the blood stream when dietary
intake is low
the remainder of the calcium is
stored in an non-exchangeable reserve in the bones.
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Function
- Helps build and
maintain bones and teeth
- Helps regulate muscle tone and
heartbeat
- Initiates blood clotting
- Assists transport of chemicals
across cell membranes
- Helps functions of protein,
hormones and enzymes
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Signs
of deficiency
- Osteoporosis*
- Bone deformities
- Muscle cramps
- Hypertension
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Notes
Consumption of large quantities of calcium is not the only way to prevent
osteoporosis. Many populations with high intakes of calcium also have high
rates of osteoporsis. For more information see: osteoporosis
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This page was last updated on 25 October 2006 15:44:31
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