Many people take bone health tablets in the form of calcium supplements to strengthen their bones. However, those tablets also have a fair share of drawbacks and even health risks, such as raising the risk of heart disease. It is a well-known fact that the body needs calcium to build and maintain strong bones. In the bloodstream it is used to send nerve signals, release hormones like insulin and regulate the contraction and dilation of muscles and blood vessels.
If you do not get an optimum amount of calcium in your diet, your body will take it from the skeletal system and teeth to use elsewhere, thus weakening your bones. There are also recommended upper limits for calcium intake. The cap is 2500mg per day for adults up to the age of 50 and 2000mg per day for adults over 50.
If you do not eat sufficient calcium-rich foods, it can result in osteoporosis. It is also noteworthy, that since women are more susceptible to osteoporosis, doctors generally recommend that they take calcium supplements, especially after reaching menopause. Calcium tablets are also of great help in the following conditions-
- If you follow a vegan diet
- If you have a high-protein or high sodium diet, which may cause your body to extract more calcium
- If you have a health condition that limits the ability of your body to absorb calcium, such as Cohn’s disease or inflammatory bowel disease
- If you are under treatment with corticosteroids for a long period of time
- If you are suffering from osteoporosis
The benefits of calcium supplements are known to most people. They not only prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women, but have also been shown to help with weight loss and lower the risk of colon cancer. Besides, as suggested by several studies, taking calcium supplements might improve metabolic markers, especially when taken with vitamin D.
However, recent researches have thrown light on the potential health risks that you might invite by taking in calcium tablets or supplements beyond recommended levels, though the evidence is mixed. The following are some of the possible dangers of bone health tablets:
- Increased risk of heart disease
- High levels may be linked to prostate cancer
- Increases susceptibility to kidney stones
- High levels of calcium in blood leads to a condition called hypocalcaemia, which causes many negative symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea, irritability, and depression
Thus, if you intend to take calcium supplements, you should be clearly aware of how much you should take. It is also crucial to note that your body cannot absorb large doses of it at once. Going by experts’ recommendation, you should not take more than 500mg at a time in supplement form.
