“Calcium Homeostasis”
Kayla Smith
Anatomy and Physiology I
BSC 1085C Ref# 82458

Calcium plays a very significant role in our bodies. Approximately 99 percent of the calcium in our bodies is stored in the teeth and bones. Calcium generates about two percent of our total body weight. Calcium is crucial in bone formation, keeping strong bones and teeth and is known for helping to prevent osteoporosis. Although calcium is mostly thought about in the bones and teeth, it also plays important roles throughout the body. The amount of calcium outside the bones and teeth may be small in comparison to what is inside the bones and teeth, but is very useful in many functions in the body. Calcium is required in functions such as the contraction …show more content…

Postmenopausal women may have problems with getting enough calcium due to greater bone loss and not absorbing calcium as well. People who are lactose intolerant may also have a problem getting enough calcium due to the fact that they cannot eat some calcium-rich foods. Vegans and vegetarians may also have a higher chance at having a calcium deficiency since they avoid dairy products, which are a major source of calcium.(Office of Dietary Supplements, 2012). In a recent study at the University of Alberta, medical researchers studied how diets high in salt could deplete calcium in the body. Researchers believe the link between calcium and sodium is that they are regulated by the same molecule in the body. They found that when the body gets rid of sodium through urine, it also gets rid of calcium. This is important because our intake of sodium is constantly increasing in our diets. This means our bodies are constantly disposing of calcium along with the sodium. This is another reason that a low sodium diet is important. It has been known for a while that this molecule was in charge of absorption of sodium in the body, but finding out that it is also responsible in regulating calcium levels is new. These researchers discovered that calcium and sodium absorption are linked. In their research, they worked with specimens that didn’t have this molecule. The specimens’ urine had high levels of calcium. Since the calcium wasn’t absorbed and kept in the body, the bones