Negative health effects linked to taking too much supplemental calcium are on the rise, according to a commentary appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The incidence of the so-called milk-alkali or calcium-alkali syndrome is growing in large part because of widespread use of over-the-counter calcium and vitamin D supplements.
The milk-alkali syndrome arose in the early 1900s when patients ingested abundant amounts of milk and antacids to control their ulcers. This practice increased individuals' risk of developing dangerously high levels of calcium in the blood, which could cause high blood pressure and even kidney failure. The incidence of the milk-alkali syndrome declined when newer ulcer medications became available, but it appears to be on the rise again thanks to increased use of over-the-counter calcium and vitamin D supplements used mainly as preventive and treatment measures for osteoporosis. In many cases, patients with the syndrome require hospitalization.
Stanley Goldfarb, MD and Ami Patel, MD (University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine) recommend changing the name of the milk-alkali syndrome to the calcium-alkali syndrome because the condition is now associated with a large intake of calcium, not milk. Postmenopausal women, pregnant women, transplant recipients, patients with bulimia, and individuals who are on dialysis have the highest risks of developing the calcium-alkali syndrome due to various physiological reasons.
According to the authors, the obvious preventive strategy against the calcium-alkali syndrome is to limit the intake of calcium to no more than 1.2 to 1.5 grams per day. "Calcium supplements taken in the recommended amounts are not only safe but are quite beneficial. Taken to excess is the problem," said Dr. Goldfarb. "Even at the recommended dose, careful monitoring of any medication is wise and yearly determinations of blood calcium levels for those patients taking calcium supplements or vitamin D is a wise approach," he added.
Story Source:The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by American Society of Nephrology, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Journal Reference: A. M. Patel, S. Goldfarb. Got Calcium? Welcome to the Calcium-Alkali Syndrome. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 2010; DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2010030255
Generally speaking, the best calcium sources are from dark green leafy vegetables. Daily supplementation should be from high absorption, protein bound (chelated) calcium, not from carbonate and not in combination with magnesium as they counter act each other. I usually suggest taking calcium during the day and magnesium in the evening. My favorite choice is calcium lactate from food sources (contact us for information about this product). If you are taking regular calcium supplements about 800 mg is sufficient. Make sure to take vitamin D and eat health fat in your diet to insure absorption. If you rely on dairy sources you will need 2% or higher fat content dairy to absorb the calcium. Dandelion is a good source of calcium as is collards. Horsetail herb is a good source of silicea and aids bone health.
The fourth-greatest cause of death: "Polypharmacy" from Matthias Rath, MD:
The above statistic by the World Health Organisation does not take into account that the serious side effects of medical drugs have now become the fourth-greatest cause of death, after heart infarction, cancer, and stroke. To keep people from finding this out, the pharmaceutical industry has even come up with a diagnostic term for this cause of death: "polypharmacy," meaning too much pharmaceutical medication.
killer "polypharmacy" - an epidemic caused by the pharmaceutical industry itself
What are some options?
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If you are currently taking diuretic medication for blood pressure lowering, you might wish to know -
These drugs remove sodium and fluids from your body. These drugs also lead to reduction or serious loss of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc, which are important minerals for health. The mineral loss may promote osteoporosis.
Sodium and water are very important to the fluid balance mechanism of your physiology.
Ask about a test called the plasma renin level. More information
Some choices for natural blood pressure lowering supplements diuretics are garlic, hawthorne, olive leaf, valerian, parsley, juniper berry, mistletoe, vinca, motherwort, essential fatty acids (omega 3); high absorption (protein bound) calcium, magnesium, or potassium; a vitamin-mineral supplement, lecithin, or vitamin B complex.
Drink distilled water, and take a 'lick' of natural mineral salt (Blackfoot Traditional Salt) daily.
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Statin drugs for cholesterol lowering
These drugs reduce by 40%, or eliminate the ability of the liver to manufacture CO Enzyme Q10. It is necessary to add 60 mg. up to 300 mg. of CO Q10 daily to make up for this loss.
LDL or low density lipoprotein increases your risk of ateriosclerosis and heart dis-ease. Liver disease, immune system dys-function, and periodontal dis-ease are common with low levels of CO Q10. CO Q10 provides vital energy to the heart.
Choices for natural cholesterol lowering support include niacin (vitamin B3, taken with bioSupplemente Naturalle for B complex support). Garlic has been studied and is known to reduce LDL up to 15% and increase HDL by 10%. Guggul has been studied and has shown the reduction of LDL up to 25% and an increase of HDL up to 20%. Lecithin may lower your cholesterol.
Other supplements that may be helpful are: Beta-Carotene, Selenium, Vitamin E ( mixed natural tocopherols of 400 IU to 1200 IU daily - begin with 100 IU daily if you have high blood pressure), Vitamin C, Flax oil, Fish oil (lemon Cod liver oil is my choice), and the amino acids lysine and proline. Adding fiber to your diet is also very important.
CO Q10 CAN REDUCE SIDE EFFECTS, Mature Times, March 05" - A daily supplement of coenzyme Q10 could avoid serious damage to the heart & liver in people who are prescribed statins,
cholesterol lowering drugs," says Julian Whitaker, a US medical doctor in a petition to the American Food & Drug Administration.
The petition requests drug manufacturers to advise patients taking statins to take a capsule of 100-300 mg. of Q10.
This is because statins disrupt the body's production of Q10, so increasing the risk of serious liver dysfunction; heart failure.Worldwide there are approximately 25 million+ statin users.COenzymeQ10 is a natural substance produced inside the body cells & is sold in health food shops as a supplement.