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Calcium plays a major role in the process of bone tissue mineralization. It takes part in muscle contraction and the transmission of information to cells. It conditions the proper function of many enzymes and blood clotting. Calcium is present in the blood serum in two fractions: as total calcium – combined with proteins, and free – ionized.
What is calcium?
Calcium (Ca) plays many very important functions in the human body. It takes part in the conduction of stimuli in skeletal muscles and the heart, and in the process of blood clotting. The right concentration of calcium means that we have strong bones, healthy teeth, efficient muscles, good sleep and a good mood. Its excess, as well as its shortage, is very dangerous. In the body of an adult human, there is about 1,2 kg of calcium (99% of which) is found in bones and teeth. The rest is found in all cells of the body. It is calcium that regulates the nervous system, and its concentration generally depends on the diet used, absorption in the intestine, released from bone and excretion in urine. Maintaining a narrow range of calcium levels in the blood is possible thanks to the action of vitamin D, parathyroid hormone and calcitonin produced by the thyroid gland. As calcium increases, the phosphate level drops at the same time, thus blocking the precipitation of calcium phosphate crystals.
Calcium (Ca) testing allows the doctor to assess the patient’s health condition and facilitates a possible diagnosis. Therefore, it is of great importance in the diagnosis of calcium disorders.
If your body does not have enough calcium, you should consider supplementing it. Try, for example, Calcium, Magnesium and Boron Viridian, which in addition to calcium also provides other important minerals such as magnesium and boron.
Calcium test – indications
When do we do the calcium test?
1. Routine examination.
2. Diagnosis of arterial hypertension.
3. Suspicion of kidney disease.
4. Skeletal disorders (deformities, bone pain). The occurrence of frequent fractures.
5. Suspicion of bone neoplasms or bone metastases.
6. Suspicion of the presence of neoplasms producing parathyroid hormone.
7. Suspicion of the presence of neoplasms of the haematopoietic system.
8. Abnormalities of the nervous system (neurological disorders).
9. Diagnosis of osteoporosis.
10. Poisoning with vitamin D or vitamin A.
11. Disorders of the functions of the thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, adrenal glands.
12. Suspicion of sarcoidosis.
13. Diagnosis of arterial hypertension.
In addition, we test the element calcium when they appear symptoms of hypercalcemia (high calcium levels) or hypocalcaemia (low calcium levels). A high concentration of energy manifests itself in, for example, depression, somnolence, chronic fatigue, and problems with concentration. Occasionally, you may experience nausea and mumble, and pass too much urine. Whereas symptoms of hypocalcaemia include: convulsions, hallucinations, cardiovascular complaints, drop in blood pressure, heart problems, double vision, photophobia, burning or tingling in the arms and legs.
Do you want to check the calcium level in your body? Buy a blood test package Check the condition of your bones, thanks to which you can immediately check other basic parameters important for bone health. You will find the package at a favorable price on Medonet Market.
Calcium level testing is also part of the patient’s packages with the possibility of blood collection at the patient’s home. Purchase, for example, a package of preventive examinations – blood tests.
If you are pregnant, it is also worth checking your body’s calcium levels. You can do it, among others as part of the Pregnancy Testing Package – the Blood Testing Package.
Calcium – the course of the study
Calcium test material: serum.
Preparation for the test: for credibility, the test should be performed on an empty stomach (at least 8 hours). It is recommended to measure total and ionized calcium in the blood.
The course of the study: one-time blood sampling from a vein in the arm. To accurately determine the concentration of total calcium, it is good to test the level of albumin on the same blood sample, because protein affects the concentration of this element. Too little albumin in the blood (hypoalbuminaemia) lowers the level of total calcium, and elevated albumin (hyperalbuminaemia) causes the level of total calcium to rise.
Time to wait for the result: 1 Day.
Standard: total calcium concentration: 2,25-2,65 mmol / l, of which 45-50% is ionized calcium. Please note that the standards may differ depending on the laboratory where the determination was performed. In children, normal calcium levels are as follows:
- infant 0-10 days: 7,6-10,4 mg / dl,
- child 10 days-2 years: 9,0-11 mg / dl,
- toddler 2-12 years old: 8,8-10,8 mg / dl,
- children 12-18 years: 8,4-10,2 mg / dl.
- The norm of ionized calcium is: 1,16-1,32 mmol / l (4-5,2 mg / dl).
Comments: As much as 99% of calcium is located in the bones. Only the ionized form present in the serum exerts a biological effect. The cost of testing for total calcium is about PLN 8, and for ionized calcium – about PLN 16.
Calcium – interpretation of test results
Elevated calcium levels are called hypercalcemia. It leads to a hypercalcemic breakthrough that causes heart problems and even coma. Treatment of hypercalcaemia mainly includes changing to a diet low in calcium, treatment of the underlying disease and the use of diuretics, which increase the excretion of calcium in the urine. If you want to reduce the concentration of calcium, it is worth increasing the level of phosphates at the same time.
The most common causes of hypercalcemia:
- overactive thyroid gland
- primary hyperparathyroidism,
- malignant tumor,
- bone fractures and prolonged immobilization,
- vitamin D overdose,
- tuberculosis,
- kidney disease.
Calcium deficiency in the blood is called hypocalcaemia. The cause of this ailment is most often acute renal failure, hypoparathyroidism, alcoholism, malnutrition, acute pancreatitis, and vitamin D and magnesium deficiency. Calcium deficiencies are much rarer than excess calcium. The mainstay of treatment of hypocalcaemia is primarily a change in diet to which greater amounts of calcium should be introduced. We can find it in such products as: yellow cheese (they have a lot of fat and are caloric, so you should not overdo them), nuts, canned fish, sesame (buy white sesame or black sesame on medonetmarket.pl), dairy and kale. It is difficult to overdose with calcium in food. However, if we take dietary supplements containing this element, the dose of 3-4 g of calcium per day should not be exceeded. We recommend the Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc Viridian supplement, which is available in packs of 30 or 120 capsules.
Note: In order to find the correct cause of disturbances in blood calcium levels, it is also necessary to determine the level of PTH, creatinine and urea, the level of alkaline phosphatase and vitamin D metabolites.