Effects Of Excess Calcium On Bones

By Sneha A

Monday, January 11, 2016, 17:47 [IST]

Calcium is one of the most important minerals that is required by the body for strong teeth and bones. It is also helpful in improving the conditions of blood pressure, for a healthier brain and cardiovascular system, etc.

A deficiency of this mineral can cause a person to suffer from various health conditions like osteoporosis and many more, but then we have also heard that too much of anything can be bad.

Now, the question arises that does too much of calcium affect the bones? The same thing that is considered extremely vital for healthier bones, is it possible that too much of it causes it equal harm?

Sadly, the answer to the above questions is yes. Even though calcium is very important for a healthy body, negative effects on bones due to overconsumption of calcium is as bad as the deficiency of it.

Most of the people are not worried about the overconsumption of calcium, but one must always understand that the body can only take and utilise a certain quantity of even the best of the things.

The following are the points that state how does too much of calcium affect the bones as well as the rest of your body. Have a look!

1.Hypercalcaemia:

Too much calcium in the blood is a disease in itself that is known as hypercalcaemia. This can happen due to abnormal functioning of the parathyroid glands.

These are the glands that control the level of calcium in the blood.

Certain tests to measure the levels of the parathyroid hormone (PTH) are to be done to assess the condition.

2.Apatite:

As the level of calcium grows in the body, it gets linked up with phosphates to form apatite that is, calcium phosphate. Apatite is one of the hardest known chemicals and turns the bones very stony, brittle and prone to easy breakage.

3.Reduction In The Uptake Of Magnesium:

Very few people are aware of the fact that the maximum limit for safe consumption of calcium is 2500 mg, but that too is not essentially needed by the body.

The extra calcium that is taken up by people for a better bone health often leads to the reduction in the uptake of magnesium, which again is extremely bad for the bones alone.

4.Osteopetrosis:

Some people can even have almost five times the required amount of calcium in their bones. This condition is known as osteopetrosis. Normally, this is a genetic condition, in which the equilibrium between forming of new bones and breaking down of the old ones is disturbed.

The breakdown of the older bones cannot be carried out properly, and thus the bones keep on getting harder becoming lesser flexible and easier to be broken down.

5.Vitamin D:

The deficiency of vitamin D can worsen the condition, as the lack of this vitamin does not allow a proper absorption of calcium. This causes softening of the bones and results in a condition commonly known as rickets.

Many studies have shown that calcium intake without vitamin D increases the chances of a fracture in women, especially hip fracture.

6.Pain In Joints:

Excess of calcium in the body can cause many other problems in the skeletal system like paining of the bones and joints, reduced height, deformity in the curvature of the spine and bowed down shoulders.

7.Brain damage:

Apart from these, excess of calcium in the body can also cause kidney stones and brain damage. Therefore, it is best to consume calcium only as per the required amount along with vitamin D.