- Calcium is very essential in muscle contraction, oocyte activation, building strong bones and teeth, blood clotting, nerve impulse, transmission, regulating heart beat and fluid balance within cells. The requirements are greatest during the period of growth such as childhood, during pregnancy, when breast feeding.
- The body contains about 2% of Ca and 98% of this is in the bones. The cell and body fluid contains from 10 – 15 mg per 100 gm .
- Out of the blood, the cerebrospinal fluid contains only 6 mg per 100 gm . The Ca in the blood and tissues and that in the skeleton are in equilibrium. The Ca of the bone can be drawn upon to make up deficiency of blood Ca and when the deficit is made up the Ca is redeposited in the bone.
- Daily body requirement is about 450 mg . The adult requirements of Ca vary. During pregnancy and lactation, there is greater depletion of Ca from the mother and the intake needs to be increased.
- On an average, 10 mg per Kg of body weight per day should be sufficient. Growing children would require from 40 to 60 mg per day . A Cow’s milk contains 0.126% of Ca. A litre of Cow’s milk provides therefore a full day’s ration of Ca is readily assimilable form.