Calcium Issues

[Clementine44]

Hi!

Anytime I’ve tried taking calcium in the past, it gives me headaches and brain fog.

Has anyone experienced this, and does anyone have any recommendations of which kind worked for you?

Thanks!

[greygoose]

Why do you want to take calcium supplements?

[Clementine44 in reply to greygoose]

My calcium and mag are at low normal levels, and was advised to take that and magnesium for bone health…

[greygoose in reply to Clementine44]

It's not advisable to take calcium supplements unless absolutely necessary because it's very badly absorbed and tends to build up in the blood and soft tissues. And, 'for bone health' is a very vague reason. Not even a real one. You should be getting plenty from your food.

Have you had your vit D tested? Good levels of vit D are essential to good bones. But, no problem with taking magnesium because excess is excreted. Although blood tests are a very poor way of monitoring magnesium.

[Clementine44 in reply to greygoose]

I have absorption issues, so I’m not sure I absorb all that I’m eating, plus I’m allergic to all dairy, though I can drink lactose free kefir which is good! So I thought the extra calcium would be helpful. And my D is at 60…

[greygoose in reply to Clementine44]

Do you have low stomach acid? A lot of hypos do, and that affects their absorption.

Even so, the fact remains that calcium supplements are not well absorbed, even by people without absorption problems - it's like swallowing rocks! - and the calcium tends to build up in the soft tissues and arteries causing problems.

High levels of calcium are not a cure, nor treament, nor preventative measure for osteoporosis, anway. So, very doubtful that the extra calcium would be helpful, more likely to cause brittle bones. And you don't just find calcium in dairy. Lots of veggies and things contain calcium.

[Clementine44 in reply to greygoose]

Interesting! Thanks for the insight. Yes I think I do, I do celery juice in the mornings to help… Maybe that’s why calcium affects me weirdly bc it doesn’t absorb properly?

[greygoose in reply to Clementine44]

Could very well be.

[Jazzw]

Are your Vitamin D levels good? Low Vit D is one of the causes of hypocalcemia.

[Clementine44 in reply to Jazzw]

Yes, my D is at 60…

[greygoose in reply to Clementine44]

Depending on the range, and the unit of measure, that doesn't look good at all.

[Clementine44 in reply to greygoose]

The range says 30-100, and they say 60 or above is optimal…

[greygoose in reply to Clementine44]

In such a small range, optimal cannot be 60 to 100, that's not logical. 60 is below mid-range, anyway. It should at least be above mid-range.

Besides, that range is for euthyroid people, not hypos. Hypos need it higher. So, I would still say it's too low.