What is the role of calcium in the human body?

In the human body, calcium has two functions independent of each other. Approximately 99% of total body calcium (about 1.2 Kg) is deposited in the organic matrix of the skeleton as phosphate salts provided to bone mineral and mechanical stability.

Meanwhile, about 1% of body calcium is dissolved in blood plasma and cellular fluids, where it performs several important functions. Among these may be mentioned that calcium is involved as a messenger to the endocrine glands or a positively charged ion for electric signal transmission along nerve pathways and muscle contraction.

These are vital functions, which means that this agency is provided, itself, a constant level of calcium in the blood and constant levels for the concentration of calcium in cells.

When there is not enough calcium in the diet, the calcium level in the blood is kept within normal range at the expense of the deposition of calcium in the skeleton.

In other words, the role of calcium as a messenger and trigger the transmission of electrical signals takes precedence over its support function in the skeleton. The mobilization of calcium from bone loss occurs with the help of a hormone secreted by the parathyroid gland. Therefore, a chronic deficiency of calcium leads to bone loss.

It is known that without vitamin D the intestine can not properly absorb dietary calcium and / or calcium supplements. However, it is important to note that vitamin D is provided not only in food, or with nutritional supplements, it is also synthesized in the skin from ultraviolet rays of the sun. Therefore, a person receiving sufficient amounts of sunlight, is able to synthesize enough vitamin D, according to ensure absorption, optimal amounts of calcium from the intestine.

 

 

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