Calcium Ascorbate

Calcium ascorbate is a well-known type of vitamin C which plays an important role in collagen formation, hormone synthesis, amino acid metabolism, and utilization of a lot of nutrients like iron and folic acid. It also plays a major factor in the immune system of the body. This kind of vitamin C is also promoted as “ester” or “buffered” form; its popularity roots from the actuality that a lot of people look for additional calcium sources on an every day basis aside from taking Vitamin C.

The body’s continuous need for restoring collagen due to trauma, stress, and daily wear and tear, becomes the main reason for essentiality of calcium supplements such as calcium ascorbate that help cell respirations, collagen production, cholesterol metabolism, and detoxifying.

An inadequate dietary calcium intake results to both muscles and bone erosion. Low calcium intake triggers the parathyroid gland to release parathyroid hormone that causes the bone calcium to be liberated to maintain and optimize blood levels of calcium. This release of parathyroid hormones encompasses a catabolic upshot on tissues of the muscle. Sufficient calcium intake is thus critical, not only to bone density and cardiovascular health, but to grow and preserve the muscle as well. On the other hand, too much of anything can be bad for the health, so the proper dosage and intakes of calcium bicarbonate is imperative.

With small inconsistencies, calcium ascorbate can usually deliver about 100mg calcium for each 800-900 mg given. Compared to the other kinds of calcium supplements like calcium bicarbonate or calcium chloride, a 100mg or more of calcium ascorbate usually has extremely high level of absorption. However, this calcium-delivering characteristic of the supplement is exactly the best reason to avoid the product.

Although it may seem that acutely lifting the levels of ionic calcium in the body’s blood can hugely enhance the acute stages of damaged tissue healing, it does not deal with the continuing consequences involved in calcium administration. In fact, the majority of scientific information shows and supports the notion that huge majority of older people is extremely calcium overdosed, plus legitimately suffering of calcium toxicity.

People continuously worry about the growing risks of osteoporosis, not considering the possibilities of excess calcium in coronary arteries, which marks long-term over dosage of calcium, and is also connected to increased heart attack risk and higher levels of long-term degenerative disease. So for people, who have been constant takers of calcium supplements, be conscious of the negative effects of the practice.

Calcium and Osteoporosis

If you grow old to be a hunched person, blame your parents for it. Experts say that osteoporosis is actually a pediatric issue.

Calcium and osteoporosis is linked together like bread and butter. The calcium intake during the early years of life will determine if the child will grow and reach his full potential. Moreover, it is also the basis for the strength of the child’s bones. Those from 1-3 years old are required a daily calcium intake of at least 500 mg. Children with ages ranging from 4-8 need about 800 mg, while those from 9-18 years old should have a daily intake of 1300 mg calcium to be able to achieve maximum growth potential.

Unfortunately, the relationship between calcium and osteoporosis is one of the most misunderstood issues of science. The Institute of Medicine has found out that a good number of our children are taking in calcium below the amount that is required of them. Painful as it is, we are depriving them of a healthier future.

Calcium and osteoporosis are closely associated with each other because about 99% of the body’s calcium is found in the bones. But this does not mean that this amount is intended for the bones’ use only. Should the body require calcium for its other processes, the calcium found in the bones can be expelled into the bloodstream. However, the calcium in the bones is the one that gives them strength. This means that the lesser the calcium in the bones, the weaker the bones are.

The issue of calcium and osteoporosis varies according to one’s sex, menopausal status, and age. There are studies conducted which revealed that the majority of females above 11 years old shows a decline in their calcium intake. This is because they opt for soda in their diet instead of milk, but males do not seem to have the same problem.

Medical practitioners insist that women should be more informed about calcium and osteoporosis matters because they are more susceptible to the problems associated with these. Furthermore, studies confirmed that a lot of women fail to get the required calcium in their diets. Hence, it is necessary for them to get their calcium needs from supplements.

Since we cannot all go back to our childhood years and hoard on milk and other dairies, it is never too late to act right now. Consult your doctor regarding the right amount of calcium for your body. Regrets over what should have been done will not do anything to improve your health.

Calcium Deficiency

Regardless how ads and media make a fuss over calcium and its sources, a good percentage of the population is still not getting enough of it. Does that mean ads are not what they claim to be? Possibly. Are people indifferent to it because they don’t know the effects of calcium deficiency? Most likely.

Like an eyesight problem, calcium deficiency is more pronounced as age increases. Calcium may be the most abundant among all the minerals in the body, but, a growing concern for lack of it is one of the major issues among Americans. From the time a person is born, 99% of the calcium in his body can be found stored in his teeth and bones. However, by the time a person reaches his thirties, his body no longer stores calcium in the same places. Thus, if there is a need to “fix” bones, the body’s sole source is the ingested calcium.

A person who does not eat as much calcium as necessary will suffer from calcium deficiency. This disorder prevents the body from remodeling bones which can eventually lead to decrease in bone density.

To better understand calcium deficiency, think of your body as a bank, and calcium as your savings account. If you have a lot of it stored early in life, your bone will have plenty to look forward to by the time retirement comes. Those who saved up little are more likely to be faced with calcium deficiency later on in their lives.

If one is suffering from calcium deficiency, or if there is an inadequate supply of calcium, the bones in the body are in a weak state and are susceptible to develop small holes. This condition will then lead to osteoporosis.

Today, there are about 10 million people suffering from this bone disease in the United States alone. Furthermore, over 30 million of the population are said to be suffering from osteopenia, or the premature stage of osteoporosis. Those with calcium deficiency are at a greater risk of fracturing the ribs, hips, spine, pelvis, and wrist.

A high percentage of those with osteoporosis are women. This is because women who are in the menopausal stage have poor amounts of estrogen in their body. Strict vegetarians and people who are lactose intolerant can be vulnerable candidates for osteoporosis because they are more likely suffering from calcium deficiency.

What used to be an old woman’s worry is now becoming a child’s issue as well. Just because we are far from the midlife phase does not mean that we can’t have calcium deficiency before then. It is never too late to act.

Calcium and Magnesium

The most common human and most rich body mineral is Calcium, with about ninety-nine percent of body calcium entirety in the teeth and bones, in addition to one percent in soft tissues and blood. It is one of the most essential minerals implicated in the healing and avoidance of osteoporosis.

Magnesium on the other hand, is a mineral that take part in preserving healthy bones, and is the body’s fourth most copious cation, with sixty percent found in bones and forty percent spread equally among non-muscular tissue and muscle. Together calcium and magnesium work hand in hand to give the body’s bone, teeth, and muscles what it needs to be strong.

Calcium and magnesium deficiency can cause health problems such as muscle cramps, insomnia, tension, aches and pains, diabetes, high blood pressure, PMS, and osteoporosis. Magnesium is vital for the absorption of calcium and has an important role in muscle, nerve, and heart function. Together with Vitamin C and D, they are become great aids for Calcium absorption, with studies suggesting that calcium with Vitamin D aid in preventing, slowing down, and even reversing the painful results of bone loss.

A lot of people think that the most important reason to obtain calcium and magnesium supplement is to create strong bones. However, the requirement for calcium and magnesium is much more complex than that. Sufficient intake of everyday dietary calcium is necessary for the control of heart rate, muscle contraction, blood clotting, and many more. Magnesium is a vital co-factor in more than three-hundred of the body’s enzymatic reactions, which contributes to the production of the cardiovascular purposes and energy construction and synthesis.

Calcium and magnesium work together, where magnesium augments calcium absorption and efforts with calcium to contract and relax muscles, as well as soothing and comforting the nerves. Jointly, they build a complicatedly connected relationship that supports the nervous system.

The roles of these two very essential minerals of the body should not be underestimated. Although only a little quantity of blood calcium is required in the soft tissues and in the blood, lacking it would cause the heart to beat unsteadily, the muscles not contracting correctly, the blood would not clot, and the nerves would not carry messages.

The body sees the bone as an emergency source of calcium for the daily life-giving processes it undergoes, it automatically takes the calcium it needs from the bones if the supply it requires is not met by the body. That is why adequate provision of calcium and magnesium in the body through ones diet is imperative to protect the bones from this destructive process.

What is Calcium Acetate?

Calcium acetate is a compound that could be a source of calcium carbonate and acetone. When heated above 160°C, calcium acetate is broken down into calcium carbonate and acetone, which is a hazardous vapor when released. It is a coarse, white powder with a slight acetic acid odor. Calcium acetate is water-soluble and its pH level is 7.

Uses of calcium acetate

In medicine, calcium acetate is used to treat hyperphosphatemia, a condition in which the phosphate level in the blood is very high than normal. In hyperphophatemia, calcium acetate binds with the phosphate in the blood and eliminates it as urine or stool. It’s also used to treat kidney diseases as well as treat or prevent calcium deficiency.

Doctor's prescription is crucial in taking this drug and dosage may be adjusted if you currently have or a history of kidney stones, have parathyroid gland disease, are taking antacids and calcium supplements at the same time, are taking tetracycline antibiotics. Antacids usually contain aluminum, and the latter can decrease the effectiveness of many types of medicines by binding to them or changing the acidity level in the stomach and urine. Other medicines that may react to calcium acetate are digoxin, and calcitriol or vitamin D supplements.

Although there is no clear evidence, yet, as to the effects of calcium acetate on fetuses or breastfed infants, it is important to discuss with your doctor prior to taking this drug if your are pregnant or breastfeeding. Moreover, this medicine had been tested only on adult patients so that specific information of its effects on children has not been established yet.

Possible side effects of calcium acetate

Like any other medicines, taking calcium acetate should be ceased at once if you experience any allergic reactions such as difficulty breathing, narrowing of the throat, full or partial loss of consciousness, incoherent speech, and swelling of the lips, tongue, or face, or hives.

For less serious reactions, you may continue taking calcium acetate provided that you also discuss them with your doctor. Other side effects may include itching, nausea or vomiting, constipation, drying of the mouth or increased thirst, loss of appetite, and increased urination. In cases of overdose, symptoms would vary from nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, confusion, delirium, stupor, and coma.

Like all other medicines, calcium acetate must be kept out of reach of children and containers need to be disposed of properly as they could contain residues.

Atorvastatin Calcium

Atorvastatin calcium is an artificial lipid-lowering agent that catalyzes the transformation of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, a rate-limiting and initial step in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. This enzyme is an off-white to white crystalline fine particles, which is somewhat very soluble in phosphate buffer of pH7.4, acetonitrile, distilled water, and ethanol, as well as being generously methanol soluble.

In humans, atorvastatin calcium and a number of its metabolites are active pharmacologically. Its main site of action, as well as the foremost cholesterol synthesis site and LDL clearance, is the liver. The dosage of drug rather than the systemic drug concentration associates superiorly with LDL clearance.

Atorvastatin calcium functions by obstructing an enzyme inside the liver, which the body utilizes to produce cholesterol. Once smaller amounts of cholesterol are created, the liver gets more cholesterol from bloodstreams, resulting to lower cholesterol level that circulates in the blood. Triglycerides and cholesterol flow in bloodstreams as fractions of lipoprotein complexes. Through the process of ultracentrifugation, these lipoprotein complexes divide into high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) parts.

Inside the liver, cholesterol and triglycerides are integrated into VLDL, freed into the plasma, and distributed to the peripheral tissues. LDL is produced from VLDL and catabolized mainly through high-affinity LDL receptor. Pathological and clinical researches explain that high plasma levels of total-C (total cholesterol), LDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B, encourage atherosclerosis in humans and are threat factors in increasing cardiovascular disease, at the same time as amplified HDL cholesterol levels are connected with a reduction of cardiovascular risk.

Atorvastatin calcium reduces lipoprotein levels and plasma cholesterol through slowing down HMG-CoA reductase and the synthesis of cholesterol inside the liver, and increasing the hepatic number of LDL receptors in the surface of the cell to improve LDL catabolism and uptake. It also lessens the production of LDL and several LDL particles. It also produces a constant and noticeable increase in the activity of LDL receptor joined with an advantageous change in superiority of flowing LDL particles.

Various clinical and pathologic investigations shows that atorvastatin calcium reduced LDL-cholesterol, total-C, and apolipoprotein B in both patients with heterozygous and homozygous FH, mixed dyslipidaemia, non-familial types of hypercholesterolaemia, and normal volunteers. It has also shown to reduce triglycerides and VLDL-cholesterol, as well as producing changeable increases in apolipoprotein A-1 and HDL-cholesterol.

Atorvastatin calcium provides good benefits for the human body, particularly in lowering cholesterol. Atorvastatin calcium or Lipitor is usually well-tolerated with transient and mild adverse reactions.

Most abundant element in the body - facts about calcium

You may hear calcium often stated in TV commercials of dairy products and how it helps strengthen our bones and teeth. But what are the facts about calcium do you know about?

In the first century, the Romans prepared calcium and called it "calsis" but it was only in 1808 that this mineral was discovered by Sir Humphry Davy of England. Lime is the major source of this mineral, hence, the Latin word "calsis" meaning lime. Classified as an "alkaline earth metal", it is found in the Earth's crust and accounts to 3.5% of the total minerals. Aside from lime, other calcium sources are chalk, limestone, and marble. Calcium as an organic mineral reacts with water and oxygen. One kilogram of 99.8% pure calcium granules costs €126.90. Calcium exists only in two compounds, lime (CaO) and gypsum (CaSO4), which are highly in demand in many industries.

More facts about calcium

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body but 99% of our body's calcium requirement is stored in the bones. So where does the 1% go? It is in the blood for the proper functioning of the nervous system, aids in muscle contraction, and blood coagulation. The facts about calcium are that it is harmful when levels go above and below normal ergo do not exceed your calcium intake to 2000mg a day. Doctors require a daily calcium intake of 1000mg for adults and 1200-1500mg for women with low estrogen.

Here are more facts about calcium, there are two kinds of calcium are absorbable by the body: calcium citrate and calcium carbonate. The former is good for people with intestinal disease; the latter is more widely used because it is less expensive but should be taken with food for it to be absorbed well. On the other hand, take your calcium sources twice a day because intestines can only absorb 600mg of calcium at once. The body absorbs only a limited quantity of calcium in the absence of vitamin D. Depending on the amount of sunshine exposure, an adult person needs 400 to 1000 international units of vitamin D each day in order to effectively get the recommended daily allowance of calcium.

Other facts about calcium are you can derive it from various sources but most abundant in dairy products, deep green vegetables, eggs, and red meat. When the calcium level in the blood goes too low it's called hypocalcaemia. When it goes too high, hypercalcaemia occurs, which is most often a result of cancer spread to the bones.

The Element Calcium

Do you know that calcium holds the fifth spot of the most abundant among all the elements on earth? However, regardless of that fact, it can never be found as it is in nature because the element calcium easily reacts with water and oxygen to form compounds.

Romans, during the 1st century, used to prepare the element calcium, then named as calyx, as lime. But it wasn’t until 1808 that the element calcium was discovered by Sir Humphrey Davy. Lime was electrolyzed in mercury to produce calcium amalgam. This process was done by Berzelius and Pontin. The discovery of the element calcium by Sir Humphrey Davy was a successful isolation of the impure metal from that process.

The element calcium, with an atomic number 20, is a trimorphic metal. This means that it is harder than the element sodium. However, the element aluminum is still harder compared to the element calcium.

When the ions of the element calcium are dissolved in water, they form sediments on the walls of pipes. This is caused when the water contains too much metal such as magnesium or calcium, and is then termed as hard water. Today, industrial plants make use of water softeners to ease the occurrence of mineral deposits. The process of electrolysis separates the metallic calcium from the softened calcium chloride.

Even if it cannot be found in nature as it is, the element calcium is still one of the most plentiful on earth. Its compounds make up 3.64% of the planet’s crust. The element calcium can only be found as limestone, fluorite, gypsum, and other forms of its compounds.

The element calcium is important in every living thing. It can be found in the bones and skeleton of humans and animals, and is present in all kinds of plants. Calcium, in its various forms, plays essential roles in the existence of living matter.

Very few know that calcium is the most plentiful among all metals that can be found in the human body. All bones and teeth are mostly made up of the element calcium. Lime is used as a common reference to it.

While the lack of calcium in our body can lead to osteoporosis and other bone-related diseases, taking in more than the necessary amount can likewise lead to serious medical conditions like kidney stones or the sclerosis of the blood vessels and the kidneys.

There are a lot of uses for the element calcium that we know about. And just how many of those that we know about are correct? We can only guess. Or we can do more than speculate.

Calcium Absorption

Coffee, tea, or milk? The numerous coffee concoctions available in various coffee shops will likely win more fans than milk and tea combined. Forget the fact that coffee makes you edgy. Or that it stains the teeth. Unfortunately, while a cup of coffee may perk up our day, it might not do as much good to our health.

Regardless of our respective health conditions, we all need our share of calcium. Regrettably, even if we hoard on calcium-rich foods, it doesn’t assure us that our bodies will be able to carry out the necessary calcium absorption. And to make matters worse, majority of us do not even get to squeeze in enough calcium into our diets.

Another fact gathered about calcium absorption is that most humans only absorb around 30% of their calcium intake. This is a sad thing and an often misunderstood one. People feed themselves with all known calcium sources in the hope that their bodies adhere to the requirement.

This doesn’t mean that you can stop trying either. But dairies like milk and cheese may not be the only solution to your calcium problem. Science has found a way for people to meet their respective calcium needs through the use of calcium supplements. Aside from containing calcium, these also participate more in the calcium absorption by the body. It is safe then to conclude that calcium supplements are more efficiently absorbed by the body than the calcium that comes from the various dietary sources.

But be wary of some of the calcium supplements available in the market today. The fact that these can be acquired without a doctor’s prescription doesn’t necessarily mean all of these are safe. In fact, some of these contain lead that is harmful to one’s health. Furthermore, some calcium supplements are still going through chemical absorption issues. There are certain kinds that are not as easily absorbed by the body as the dietary sources are. Hence, if you want to get the best calcium absorption from the supplements, it is best to seek the advice of a doctor regarding which kind will work well for you.

There are some things that can help increase calcium absorption in the body. Fact is stomach acids are needed by the body for the break down of foods. That is why it is advisable to take in supplements when you’re almost done with a meal, not after it. Also, calcium absorption is not as effective if your body lacks its supply of Vitamin D.

Taking in supplements every single day won’t really make that much difference if you don’t get your daily dose of sunlight.

Calcium Oxide

Calx, lim, or lime. Regardless what term you use, they all mean the same thing. Calcium Oxide is a widely-used chemical compound with the chemical symbol CaO. It is described as colorless and crystalline or white and shapeless. Other names for calcium oxide are quicklime and caustic lime.

Calcium oxide is produced through the heating of coral, limestone, chalk, or sea shells, all of which are calcium carbonates. This process expels carbon dioxide gas, leaving lime as the main product. Moreover, this particular process is reversible, meaning, lime reacts with carbon dioxide in order to produce calcium carbonate.

Sourcing out calcium oxide from limestone is among the oldest chemical processes done by man. The vast presence of limestone in the planet and its convenient way of producing calcium oxide from it is only one of the reasons why lime is considered as an ancient chemical product. Another reason is its being valuable. Since it has many uses, industries manufacture it in a large scale. In fact, the United States produced about 20 million metric tons of calcium oxide in the year 2000.

Calcium oxide’s reaction with carbon dioxide is at a slow rate in room temperature. However, the process can be sped up by mixing water with lime, producing calcium hydroxide or slaked lime. The reaction of carbon dioxide and calcium hydroxide then is made faster, creating a quick-hardening mortar as an end product.

Calcium oxide is of great importance to the modern world. Almost half of its production is intended for use by the steel industry. This is because of the fact that lime has the ability to react with silicates to form solutions.

The manufacture of some metals also utilizes calcium oxide. Some chemicals are also produced using lime as an essential material. There are numerous industrial processes that involve the use of calcium oxide such as removal of phosphates in sewages, water supply pretreatment, pulping wood in the paper industry, and as coagulant in the sugar industry.

Calcium oxide can be harmful when inhaled, irritating the lungs, causing shortness of breath and coughing. Contact can lead to eye and skin irritations or burns. Being exposed for a long time may result to nose irritation which can later result to a porous bone, fragile nails, and breaks in the skin.

Lime even played a huge part in theatres. Why else, do you think, would they call limelight as such?

Calcium Chloride

Do you know that calcium chloride is used to melt ice? And ironically, it is used as a drying agent as well.

The chemical compound is formed from both calcium and chlorine elements. It is highly hygroscopic, that is why it is always stored in tightly-closed containers. Those with hygroscopic nature have the affinity for moisture in the atmosphere. This chemical compound is also deliquescent. This property makes the compound easily soluble in the water that it absorbs.

Calcium chloride can be directly sourced out from limestone. However, a major source of the compound is the Solvay process. This process is done to produce sodium carbonate out of sodium chloride and calcium carbonate. Even if the Solvay process’ main product is sodium carbonate, it still produces large amounts of calcium chloride as by-product.

The chemical reaction of hydrochloric acid and calcium carbonate also produces calcium chloride.
There are several uses of calcium chloride. With its hygroscopic nature, it can serve as a channel to absorb moisture in air and gases. It can also be used as additives in liquids so that the removal of dissolved or suspended water may be done. This particular function makes calcium chloride a desiccant or a drying agent.

Its function as an ice-melting compound is made possible by the extreme heat produced during its dissolution. Calcium chloride is often used to hasten the initial setting of concrete. However, it is not recommended for use in reinforced concretes as calcium ions tend to corrode steel rebar.

And do you know that calcium chloride controls the dust on the roads? Because it is highly hygroscopic, it creates a layer of liquid on the road’s surface, thus holding the dust down.

Calcium chloride also plays an important role in foods. Since it tastes very salty, it is sometimes used to provide salty flavor to some foods without raising their sodium content. Canned vegetables also make use of calcium chloride in their ingredients to preserve their firmness.

Even though calcium chloride is generally a safe compound to handle, precautionary measures should be observed to prevent it from being ingested. Since it has a strong affinity with water, with which it reacts exothermically with, this chemical compound has the capability to burn one’s mouth and/or esophagus. Wearing gloves and goggles are also a must since the compound is a known irritant. Inhalation must be strongly avoided.

As with any other chemical substance, the effect of calcium chloride on one’s health is dependent on the level and length of one’s exposure. And as always “an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure”.

Calcium

If splurging on milk, cheese, and other dairy products means that we will be totally spared from osteoporosis and other bone-related diseases, cows would need to produce milk than usual. For those who are not as fond of the cow’s produce but are as scared of osteoporosis as everybody is, calcium supplements save their day.

But are all forms of calcium the same? Will each of them be as effective as the other in preventing bone density loss? Unfortunately, not everything you see in commercials is true. Otherwise, if they all stick to the whole truths, no one is going to make money.

So now, the million-dollar-question is “what is the best source of calcium for our bones?” Dr. Hans Nieper, M.D. of Germany made extensive studies found out interesting things. The study stated that calcium is most useful in the prevention of bone-related issues when it is in the calcium orotate form. To someone who does not study this field, Dr. Nieper’s discovery is very hard to understand indeed.

The body just doesn’t absorb all forms of calcium as they are taken in and convert them to bone-building stuff. If that was the case, osteoporosis and the like, would all be unheard of. However, the body goes through a lot of chemical changes in order to make use of those bone-density-boosters that we are taking in. Chemical catalysts or enzymes work hand in hand with other vitamins and minerals to work the process. Thus, these other elements are also as important as calcium is. This means that one should exist along with the others.

Magnesium is one of the elements required for the chemical process. Along with calcium, magnesium serves as the fuel that controls the heart. That is why it is not that difficult to understand why both of these minerals need to be present abundantly.

Admittedly, people who indulge on dairy products (ice cream included) do not seem to have any calcium issue. But generally, while calcium deficiency in people is rare, it remains to be a possibility. Sometimes, individuals may just be suffering from magnesium deficiency, but have been pointing their fingers at the wrong thing.

Calcium does not prevent any bone disease all by itself. If we lack Vitamin C, our calcium intake may lead us to suffer from kidney stones. Bottomline, there has to be a balance of everything. People have the misconception that if they take on too much of something all at once, the more effective it is. Nothing can be farther from the truth.