How much calcium should i take per day

Women ages 25 to 50 years need 1, mg of calcium a day. Men 25 to 70 years need 1, mg a day and 1,, mg a day if they are over age Share on facebook. Share on twitter. Share on linkedin.

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This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Request Appointment. Healthy Lifestyle Nutrition and healthy eating. Products and services. When should I take calcium supplements? Does the timing matter? It's needed for the chemical processes that cells use to carry out a variety of actions in the body, such as releasing essential enzymes for digestion and enabling muscles to contract, including the heart muscle.

Not getting enough calcium can be harmful to your health. Since calcium is required for so many vital functions, your body will take it from your bones if you don't get enough in your diet. This can weaken your bones and make them more susceptible to fractures. A severe calcium deficiency can lead to a condition known as hypocalcemia , which is when there is deficient calcium in the blood. Hypocalcemia may lead to symptoms such as:. In addition, research suggests that calcium deficiency may be associated with other conditions, including:.

Vitamin D is important for calcium absorption. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation may help you get enough of these nutrients if you're deficient in them. In , The U. The best way to get calcium is from natural sources in your diet.

Dietary sources are absorbed into the body more efficiently than calcium supplements and different types of calcium-rich foods also contain other important nutrients that your body needs, like protein, iron, vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin C.

A variety of foods contain ample amounts of calcium. Below is a table of some of the best dietary sources. If you aren't getting an adequate amount of calcium from natural sources, calcium supplementation may be an option to try. There are four main types of calcium supplements:. Each type has varying amounts of elemental calcium, which is the actual amount of calcium that the body can absorb.

Calcium carbonate is absorbed with the aid of stomach acid, so it's important to take it with food. Calcium citrate is easier for the body to absorb and does not need to be taken with food. Because of this, calcium citrate can be a good option for people who have an absorption disorder or inflammatory bowel disease IBD.

Calcium lactate and calcium gluconate may be found in over-the-counter supplements. And calcium gluconate is used in IV therapy to treat hyperkalemia , which is an excess amount of potassium in the blood. Dealing with joint pain can cause major disruptions to your day. How can you be sure? Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Address Line 2. Zip Code. Sign-up to our newsletter? Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Youtube.

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