Calcium is one of 21 elements known to be essential to humans. Approximately 99% of the calcium within the human body is located within bone and teeth, where it provides a structural service.
The skeleton is an important reservoir for the calcium circulating in the extracellular fluid.
It serves both functions mainly by adjusting the balance between bone formation and bone resorption.
A positive calcium balance is required before bone growth can occur. Calcium intake and skeletal modeling and turnover determine calcium balance during growth.
Calcium is also important in metabolic functions such as muscular function, nervous stimuli, enzymatic and hormonal activities, and transport of oxygen.
Calcium being involved in muscle contraction, endocytosis, exocytosis, cell mobility the movement of chromosomes and release of neurotransmitters.
Small but highly important amounts of calcium are present in extracellular fluids, particularly blood plasma, as well as in a various body cells. A drop in the level of calcium to below 2.1 mmol/liter is termed hypocalcaemia and can lead to various symptoms.
Half of the plasma calcium is ionized and it fraction affects humoral controls, which are important in dictating intestinal absorption, renal loss and calcium bone metabolism.
Research findings also have suggested the potential involvement of calcium in cancer prevention and hypertension.
Role of calcium in human nutrition
