How to recognize the signs and symptoms of calcium deficiency and treat it effectively

GettyImages 689421935 — Yogurt is a great source of calcium.
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Calcium deficiency results in symptoms like muscle spasms, cramping, irregular heartbeats, and bone fractures.
People at a greater risk of calcium deficiency include vegetarians, vegans, post-menopausal women, and people with a dairy allergy or intolerance.
Calcium deficiency can be treated with supplements or by increasing your intake of calcium-rich foods like almonds or yogurt.
Visit Insider’s Health Reference library for more advice.

Calcium is an essential mineral found in foods such as dairy, and, to a lesser extent, seafood, and leafy greens. When a person does not receive enough calcium in their diet or through supplements, a deficiency can occur, leading to symptoms like muscle aches or brittle bones.

Here’s what you need to know about identifying, diagnosing, and treating a calcium deficiency.

What does calcium do?

Calcium is an essential mineral, which means the body cannot make it on its own.

Calcium helps to:

Maintain normal blood clotting
Contract muscles – including your heartbeat
Build strong bones and teeth

Over 40% of the US population does not consume enough dietary calcium. And, in 2011, 3.5 billion people worldwide were at risk of a calcium deficiency.

About 99% of the body's calcium is stored in the teeth and bones. "The other one percent is found in blood and fluids, in our cells and tissues," says Kelly Rashid, RD, CSO, a dietitian with her own private practice in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. "In fluid, it acts as an electrolyte and plays an important role in heart rhythm and muscle contraction.'

Signs and symptoms of calcium deficiency

Symptoms of calcium deficiency are more evident as time goes on, but there are some initial signs. According to Bansari Acharya, a registered dietitian-nutritionist in Detroit, Michigan, calcium deficiency can cause symptoms like:

Muscle spasms
Cramps
Muscle aches and pains

According to Jinan Banna, PhD, a registered dietitian, and professor of nutrition at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, long-term calcium deficiency can cause:

Irregular heartbeats
Osteopenia
Osteoporosis
An increased risk of bone fractures
Hypocalcemia

"When we do not get enough calcium from our diet, our bones correct the deficit by releasing calcium back into our blood and body fluids," says Rashid. "When this occurs regularly, over time, it can contribute to low bone mass, osteopenia, and osteoporosis. All of these conditions increase risk of fracture."

Causes of calcium deficiency

There are a few ways to become calcium deficient, but the most common one is through a low-calcium diet. The daily recommended intake of calcium varies by gender and age:

Infants 0-6 months: 200 mg
Infants 7-12 months: 260 mg
Children 1-3 years: 700 mg
Children 4-8 years: 1,000 mg
Adolescents 9-18 years: 1,300 mg
Adults 19-50 years: 1,000 mg
Males 50-70 years: 1,000 mg
Females over 50 years: 1,200 mg
Adults over 71 years: 1,200 mg

While calcium is available in various foods, there are many reasons someone may be lacking in it. The following people are at an increased risk of calcium deficiency:

Vegetarians and vegans may consume less calcium from their diet, especially vegans, as they avoid dairy.
Lactose intolerant people are unable to tolerate dairy - a large source of calcium. They, therefore, avoid it.
Post-menopausal women, because a decrease in estrogen production can reduce the absorption of calcium.

Calcium deficiency can also occur in newborns, although the symptoms and causes are different. This is called neonatal hypocalcemia.

Neonatal hypocalcemia

Neonatal hypocalcemia occurs when a baby doesn't have enough calcium in their blood. Symptoms generally appear between one day to a few weeks after birth. While not all babies with neonatal hypocalcemia will exhibit symptoms, signs to look out for include:

Muscle twitches
Tremors
Seizures
Poor feeding
Lethargy

This rare condition occurs due to low parathyroid hormone levels or low magnesium levels in the baby. It is more likely to occur in babies with low birth weight or who were premature.

Calcium deficiency diagnosis

"If you are experiencing symptoms such as muscle aches, pains, tingling in the hands or feet, or mental status changes, you should see your doctor as soon as possible," says Acharya, noting it is even more important to pay them a visit if your family has a history of osteoporosis.

Another reason to visit your doctor is if you've begun shrinking. "If you notice that your height is trending down at your yearly physical, that may be a sign of bone loss from long-term inadequate calcium intakes," says Rashid.

Calcium deficiency is difficult to test for as your bones leach calcium into the bloodstream during a deficiency. Therefore, blood levels of calcium may be normal despite there being a deficiency. Therefore, it's better to measure bone density with a bone scan, which is an imaging test that can detect skeletal issues that a typical X-ray can't pick up.

Calcium deficiency treatment

Once you have been diagnosed with a calcium deficiency, your doctor can help create a treatment plan.

"Treatment depends on how severe the condition is and how long it has been present, says Banna. "A calcium infusion may be warranted for severe and acute deficiency, while calcium and vitamin D may be warranted otherwise in supplement form."

To increase your intake, integrate calcium-rich foods into your diet, such as:

Yogurt
Milk
Cheese
Oatmeal
Almonds
Fortified orange juice

Alongside increasing your calcium intake, make sure you're consuming adequate amounts of vitamin D, as it helps your body to absorb and utilize calcium.

Your doctor may also recommend treating the condition through prescription calcium supplements, says Acharya. But consuming more than your upper intake limit for calcium can cause constipation, issues with zinc absorption, and kidney stones.

The upper intake limit varies by gender and age:

Infants 0-6 months: 1,000 mg
Infants 7-12 months: 1,500 mg
Children 1-8 years: 2,500 mg
Adolescents 9-18 years: 3,000 mg
Adults 19-50 years: 2,500 mg
Adults over 50 years: 2,000 mg

Insider's takeaway

Although calcium deficiency is uncommon, most Americans do not consume adequate amounts of the essential mineral, putting them at an increased risk. Vegans and those who are lactose intolerant are at a greater risk of developing it.

If you experience muscle spasms or frequent bone fracturing, reach out to your doctor as they can determine if you are calcium deficient with a blood test and help you create a plan to increase your levels.