The Benefit of Combining Calcium and Vitamin D

The Combination

Calcium is one of the most important requirements for a healthy life because it is a mineral that is necessary for your body to perform at its peak condition. The National Osteoporosis Foundation states that, “Calcium plays an important role in building stronger, denser bones early in life and keeping those bones strong and healthy later in life.” Almost 99% of the body’s calcium deposits are stored in the bones and teeth of the body, but calcium actually plays a much more important role than stabilizing the bone structure. A high intake of calcium has been associated with lower risks of kidney stones, although traditionally it was thought to be the opposite, and calcium has also been viewed as a way to prevent colon cancer, although recent studies have presented conflicting evidence, and actually suggests that the results might have occurred due to the anti-carcinogenic effects of vitamin D, which is closely linked to calcium because vitamin D is necessary for the body to absorb calcium.

Vitamin D is a crucial vitamin in that it helps to maintain several of the body’s organ systems, but the primary reason for its importance is due to its behavior in increasing the flow of calcium throughout the bloodstream and promoting absorption of calcium and phosphorus. Without sufficient vitamin D, the body lacks the necessary chemical components to create strong bones, which can lead to thin, brittle, or misshapen bones, easily broken or fractured and the source of pain and discomfort.

Vitamin D deficiencies can also lead to liver and kidney disorders, as well as bone softening diseases and conditions such as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, as well as osteoporosis.

Vitamin D is considered vital for even minimal levels of health. It is naturally produced by the body when skin and eyes are exposed to direct sunlight. As humanity has advanced and humans began to work indoors, as well as wearing more clothing while outdoors, not to mention using layers of sunscreen, many countries have begun to see an increase in serious diseases directly related to vitamin D deficiencies. As a result, most countries have been fortifying certain food groups for years with supplemental vitamin D, including milk, yogurt, breakfast cereal and breads.

Deficiencies

Deficiencies of calcium and vitamin D can result in a number of potentially deadly side effects and diseases, as well as disorders. Calcium deficiencies are mostly related to bones and teeth and the overall strength and health of the skeletal structure of our bodies; vitamin D deficiency has a much more complex series of potential dangers associated with same. While the deficiency of vitamin D can directly impair bone mineralization that can lead to bone softening diseases, there are various liver and kidney disorders that are directly related to vitamin D deficiencies as well.

For example, vitamin D deficiencies have been linked to several chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, tuberculosis, various forms of cancer, periodontal disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, peripheral artery disease, cognitive impairment and the corresponding memory loss and dementia, as well as various autoimmune diseases including type I diabetes. Low levels of vitamin D have also been linked to Parkinson’s disease, although these links have not yet been substantiated. There are currently a large number of research studies going on into vitamin D and its link to diseases and disorders.

Can They Cure Cancer?

The hormone in vitamin D, calcitriol, has been directly linked to the death of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. This anti-cancer aspect of the vitamin has created a surge of studies over the years showing that the active form of vitamin D has significant effects against cancer development, with epidemiological studies showing that there is an inverse association between sun exposure and intakes of vitamin D in the risk of developing and/or surviving cancer. For example, in 2005 scientists released a metastudy which showed the beneficial effects of taking vitamin D and preventing cancer by analyzing 63 published reports that showed an additional 1,000 IU of vitamin D used daily reduced an individual’s risk of developing colon cancer by 50%, and a 30% reduction in the risk of ovarian or breast cancer.

The National Cancer Institute performed another review that found vitamin D as preventative for colorectal cancer, with a 72% reduction in risk associated with blood levels of 80 nmol/L or higher, although the same study did not find any links between vitamin D and cancer mortality.

Other Benefits

Above and beyond the results of such studies, there is research suggesting that vitamin D in conjunction with calcium can help prevent other diseases as well, such as coronary disease. Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to high blood pressure and cardiovascular risk, with researchers studying a group of 1,739 individuals over the age of 59 for a period of five years people who had low levels of vitamin D, which found that such group had a 62% higher risk of developing cardiovascular issues as compared with those individuals who had normal levels of the vitamin, as published in 1995 in the American Journal of Hypertension. Additionally, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that out of 5,000 participants in a study, those with low levels of vitamin D were associated with an increased risk of peripheral artery disease, with the incidence of the disease being 80% higher in participants who had the lowest levels of vitamin D deficiency. And while the relevancy of vitamin D in terms of a healthy heart has not yet been settled in the scientific community as a whole, a vast array of studies exist which link the vitamin directly to an overall reduction in heart diseases.

The skeletal structure of our body is important to the overall health of an individual throughout their life, especially as we get older and our bodies begin to deteriorate. The good news is that if you have maintained a proper level of vitamin D and calcium throughout your life, or if you start a disciplined regimen today, your bones will stand the test of time without flinching.

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