The CHIROPRACTIC FAMILY PRACTICE, NUTRITION
and DIAGNOSTIC PREVENTIVE MEDICINE COURSE
By R. Michael Cessna, D.C., N.M.D., DABCI
Copyright 2000 * All Rights Reserved

 

CALCIUM

 

CLINICAL RANGE: 8.5 - 10.8

HOMEOSTATIC RANGE: 9.7 - 10.1

PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF CALCIUM: IT IS THE MOST ABUNDANT MINERAL IN THE BODY AND RELATES TO:

BONE METABOLISM

PROTEIN ABSORPTION

DRAWING OF FATS THROUGH INTESTINAL WALL

1) Serum proteins influence the calcium level; it is increased in hyper-proteinemia and decreased in hypoproteinemia.

2) In general there is a reciprocal relation between calcium and phosphorus; a change in one is followed by an opposite change in the other.

SUSPECT THE FOLLOWING WHEN THERE IS:

Elevated Calcium and Elevated Phosphorus consider hypervitaminosis "D"

Decreased Calcium and Decreased Protein think poor protein assimilation

Low Calcium, Low Bilirubin and Low Phosphorus suggests poor absorption of intestinal fat

Decreased Calcium and elevated Phosphorus consider poor gall bladder emulsification

Decreased Calcium and decreased Triglycerides and an elevated LDH = Possible pancreatic enzyme deficiency

Altered Calcium and elevated Uric Acid with elevated Protein is seen in Pancreatic digestive enzyme deficiency

Decreased Calcium, decreased Phosphorus and elevated Alkaline Phosphatase is typical of Vitamin D deficiency

Calcium is the key to balancing all the minerals in the body. All deficient minerals will never be permanently elevated and stabilized until the calcium is normalized.

The CALCIUM - PHOSPHORUS INDEX. It takes 2.5 ions of calcium to combine with one ion of phosphorus. The amount of serum calcium the body uses is predicated on the amount of serum phosphorus that is available. The Index should be above 30 with the IDEAL RANGE between 30 and 40. To determine a patients index the following calculations can be made.

1) The AVAILABLE CALCIUM is the amount of serum calcium that is measured on the blood sample.

2) The optimum Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio is 2.5 to 1. The quantity of USABLE CALCIUM by the body can be calculated by multiplying the serum phosphorus by the constant 2.5 (Phosphorus X 2.5).

3) The CALCIUM - PHOSPHORUS INDEX can be calculated by multiplying the Usable Calcium times the Phosphorus (UC X P = Ca-Ph Index).

NOTE: The above two calculations can be performed simply by squaring the Phosphorus and multiplying it by 2.5 (Phosphorus squared X 2.5)

___________________________________________________________________________

PATHOLOGICALLY INCREASED CALCIUM VALUES (>10.8) ARE SEEN IN:

Hypervitaminosis D

Loss of calcium from bone

Hyperplasia or tumor of the thyroid

Hyperparathyroidism

Multiple myeloma

Carcinoma (metastatic to bone)

Polycythemia vera

Neurofibromatosis

___________________________________________________________________________

PATHOLOGICALLY DECREASED CALCIUM VALUES (<8.5) ARE SEEN IN:

Vitamin D deficiency

Malnutrition

Diarrhea

Hypoparathyroidism

Osteoporosis 

Osteomalacia

Pneumonia

Nephrosis

Severe nephritis

Renal rickets

Tetany

Idiopathic steatorrhea

Sprue

Acute pancreatic necrosis

Celiac disease

Pregnancy

___________________________________________________________________________

CALCIUM RELATED TESTS: Parathyroid Hormone, Calcitonin, Phosphorus, Alkaline Phosphatase, Vitamin D, Total Protein, CBC, Ca/Alb Ratio.

___________________________________________________________________________

The following nutrients may be beneficial for patients with ELEVATED CALCIUM:

Hydrochloric Acid

Stomach Glandular

Calcium

___________________________________________________________________________

The following nutrients may be beneficial for patients with DECREASED CALCIUM:

Calcium (see calcium therapy below)

Vitamin D

Pancreatic Digestive Enzymes

___________________________________________________________________________

ABOUT CALCIUM THERAPY

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and is one of the most important minerals relevant to the absorption and balance of the other essential minerals and trace minerals.

Calcium therapy is best utilized by monitoring the urine pH, blood calcium levels and serum phosphorus then altering the type of calcium employed predicated on the changes in laboratory data. Calcium ions are best used by the cells when two different forms of the mineral are prescribed. Calcium Citrate is one of the most biologically active of all the calciums available, and is the calcium you will use most often.

Calcium absorption is decreased by foods containing high fiber, phytates, cellulose, uronic acid and oxalates. Its absorption is enhanced by lactose and vitamin D.

The following scale is useful in determining calcium therapy and manipulating the extremes of abnormal urine pH:

URINE pH CALCIUM and/or NUTRIENT INDICATED

___________________________________________________________________________

8.0 

HYDROCHLORIC ACID

ASCORBIC ACID

CALCIUM CHLORIDE

CALCIUM LACTATE

CALCIUM PHYTATE

7.5 

AMMONIUM CHLORIDE

___________________________________________________________________________

7.5 

CALCIUM OROTATE

CALCIUM LACTATE

ASCORBIC ACID

6.8 

NOTE: CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 10 USE CALCIUM GLUCONATE "ONLY"

___________________________________________________________________________

6.8 

CALCIUM CITRATE

CALCIUM PROTEINATE (Soybean)

CALCIUM PHOSPHATE

----------------------------------- 6.4 IS THE IDEAL URINE Ph -----------------------

CALCIUM CITRATE

CALCIUM GLUCONATE

6.0 

CALCIUM CARBONATE

CALCIUM CITRATE

CALCIUM GLUCONATE

CALCIUM CARBONATE

5.6 

VITAMIN "D"

___________________________________________________________________________

5.6 

CALCIUM CITRATE

SODIUM - POTASSIUM BICARBONATE

CALCIUM GLUCONATE

CALCIUM CARBONATE

5.1  

VITAMIN "D"

___________________________________________________________________________

5.0 or less 

CALCIUM CITRATE

CALCIUM GLUCONATE

NOTE: DO NOT USE VITAMIN C THERAPY UNTIL URINE pH IS ABOVE 5.5

Slide Session - 57 - 58 - 59 - 60 - 61 - 62 - 63 - 64 - 65