W8-L2: Major Minerals - Calcium Flashcards
What are Major minerals?
minerals required by the body in relatively larger amounts (typically >100 mg/day
What are the functions of Calcium?
6
- Bone and Teeth Health
- Muscle Contraction
- Nerve Transmission
- Blood Clotting
- Hormonal Secretion
- Cell Signalling
How does Calcium function in
Bone & Teeth Health?
Bone and Teeth Health
- (99% of body’s calcium stores are in bones and teeth)
- Structural Integrity: essential for the development, maintenance, and density of bones and teeth.
How does Calcium function in
Muscle Contraction?
Contraction Mechanism: crucial for muscle contraction, enabling the interaction of actin & myosin, which facilitates movement.
How does Calcium function in
Nerve Transmission?
Neurotransmitter Release: vital for the release of neurotransmitters at synapses, allowing for effective communication between nerve cells
How does Calcium function in
Blood Clotting?
Coagulation Process: plays a key role in the blood coagulation cascade, necessary for the formation of clots to prevent excessive bleeding.
Vitamin E and K have same function
How does Calcium function in
Hormonal Secretion?
Endocrine Function: involved in the secretion of hormones, including insulin
How does Calcium function in
Cell Signalling?
acts as a Secondary Messenger
What is the RDA for Calcium?
RDA 1,000mg
What are sources of Calcium?
- Dairy foods
- Calcium-fortified foods and drinks: orange juice, soy and almond drinks, tofu, cereals
- Some leafy green vegetables
Example of Foods with Calcium:
What can a Calcium Deficiency lead to?
How should Calcium supplements be taken?
Best absorbed in doses ~500mg at a time
What can Calcium Toxicity Lead to?
Hpercalcemia: excessively high calcium levels in blood,
(nausea, vommiting, confusion, fatigue kidney stones)
also a symptom of vitamin D toxicity
What is the UL for calcium?
2500 mg
