Can Calcium Help Prevent Hormonal Disorders?

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1. General overview of research results

Research published in the journal BMJ shows that women who add small amounts of calcium to their diets have a lower risk of developing a hormone disorder called primary hyperparathyroidism. broadcast. The study also found that women with diets low in calcium may be more likely to develop primary hyperparathyroidism. From this study, the idea of ​​taking a daily calcium supplement with a supplement has reason to be taken seriously again.
Many women have removed calcium supplements from their medicine cabinets after it was announced that calcium did not prevent osteoporosis, at least in postmenopausal women. Recent studies have linked calcium supplementation with a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.
A 2010 report by the American Academy of Medicine on calcium intake concluded that the majority of healthy adults do not need calcium supplements, because a national survey indicates that the average calcium intake is adequate. . The problem, however, is that this average is not the exact number that everyone accepts. And most likely, most women don't get enough calcium each day.

The American Academy of Medicine recommends that nearly all adults need 1000 - 1200 mg of calcium per day to have strong bones.

2. How are calcium levels related to primary hyperparathyroidism?

Researchers followed more than 58,000 women, and every four years, these women were asked about their diet and general health.
During the 22 years of the study, 277 women were diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism. Primary hyperparathyroidism is a condition in which the parathyroid glands secrete too much hormone, causing calcium to be unnecessarily removed from the bones and into the bloodstream.
The level of calcium in the blood is a factor that affects the functioning of the parathyroid glands. If levels are low, the parathyroid glands will increase hormone secretion to bring calcium from the bones into the bloodstream. Once the blood calcium levels are normal, the process stops, and it's all about keeping the blood calcium levels stable. Diets low in calcium can cause chronic overactive parathyroid gland stimulation.
High blood calcium levels due to primary hyperparathyroidism cause the body to have many problems, such as fatigue, exhaustion, depression,... Bones are taken away too much calcium, causing thinning bone is severe. When blood calcium levels are too high, calcium is deposited in the kidneys, causing kidney stones.

Primary hyperparathyroidism occurs in 1 in 800 people, but it becomes more common as people age and especially in postmenopausal women. 1 in every 250 women over the age of 55 will develop a parathyroid tumor in their lifetime. But the biggest problem is that doctors often pay little attention to parathyroid problems.

3. Should I use calcium supplements or not?

The results of the study show that it is necessary to seriously rethink the use of calcium supplements. However, to date, more research is still needed on this issue, to be able to comprehensively assess the benefits and risks from using calcium supplements.
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Reference source: webmd.com