At our IV therapy Toronto lounge, calcium may be considered for many reasons. You probably associate the mineral with improving bone health. But it’s imperative for muscle health, clotting blood, optimizing nerves and for synchronizing heart rhythms, too!

Although the mineral is crucial for development, the human body cannot produce it on its own. So, we have to depend on food or supplementation for intake. In some cases, the body might use calcium stores from the bones. “Ideally, the calcium that is “borrowed” from the bones will be replaced at a later point. But this doesn’t always happen, and can’t always be accomplished just by eating more calcium,” explains the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Therefore, this mineral should be top-of-mind for optimal health, especially for preventing chronic illness. But studies have shown that older adults tend to experience reduced absorption of nutrients, including calcium. This puts these individuals at risk for fractures.

Here, the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre highlights facts about this mineral – including beneficial effects – and how to take it through dietary changes, the oral route, or as IV vitamin drip therapy.

10 Facts About Calcium

1. Infants and kids need it for bone development; once their growth has halted, the mineral is still required for preventing the loss of bone density. Most of the mineral (99%) is stockpiled in your bones; the rest is in the muscles, blood and additional tissues.
2. In conjunction with magnesium, calcium controls the contraction and relaxation of a heart muscle that frames around blood vessels.
3. Also, it has a role in muscle contractions. When a muscle is roused, the mineral is released to assist proteins with performing the contraction. Then the body uses magnesium to help relax the muscle from the movement.
4. Lacking calcium and vitamin D could result in osteoporosis down the road. If you don’t have enough vitamin D, you can experience issues producing a hormone called calcitriol. Calcitriol, says the National Institutes of Health, is an active form of vitamin D, and when there isn’t enough vitamin D in the body, this may lead to insufficient calcium absorption.
5. Both calcium and magnesium have shown to help reduce the risks of preeclampsia in pregnant women already deprived of these minerals.
6. It might replenish mineral deficiencies during PMS. In one study, women in their twenties were shown to be deficient in this mineral, as well as magnesium and vitamin D, while enduring PMS. Because this is a widespread issue in females, more research is needed on these nutrients’ effects on this condition.
7. You can boost your calcium intake through non-dairy food choices. Leafy greens, edamame, fortified orange juice, almonds, winter squash, beans and nuts also contain the mineral.
8. Chewable, powdered, tablet or capsule forms are available as supplements. The Mayo Clinic considers calcium citrate as an example of a supplement that can be taken “…with low stomach acid, inflammatory bowel disease or absorption disorders.” Multivitamins and multiminerals also carry the mineral, and you can find it combined with magnesium or vitamin D formulations. Keep in mind that side effects may occur from oral intake, which might include gas or constipation.
9. IV therapy is another method for upping this mineral intake. Also known as IV nutrient therapy or infusion therapy, a nutritional solution with beneficial ingredients (i.e. calcium) is administered through the vein, bypassing the digestive tract. Thus, you receive a complete absorption of nutrients without unwanted side effects that might result from oral supplements.
10. To ensure that supplementation suits you, consult with a functional medicine health care team (i.e. a functional-medicine focused medical doctor, naturopathic doctor or nurse practitioner). Note: calcium supplementation might lessen the absorption of antibiotics. If you’re on other vitamins or medications, please inform your health care provider. A functional medicine practitioner tends to you as an individual patient, so they may consider your health status, genetics, environmental and lifestyle factors to customize supplements, such as vitamin drip treatments.

Do you want to boost your mineral levels? You’re invited to consult with the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre to see if these supplements are suitable for you. We can recommend dietary modifications, oral supplements or intravenous therapy.  We also carry intravenous drips with high-dose vitamin C, major antioxidants, Myers Cocktail, a medley of amino acids, glutamic acid, essential vitamins, and other IV treatments such as IV therapy with molybdenum.

About the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre’s IV Lounge

At our Yorkville clinic, functional medicine providers can coach you through your process of recovery and toward optimal functioning. Our integrative care to patients allows you to uncover a range of techniques for symptom relief, while addressing the root of your chronic or acute health issues. Some of the conditions our practitioners may address include: immune function, chronic fatigue syndrome, thyroid conditions, substance withdrawal symptoms, premature aging, oxidative stress, mental health, athletic recovery, and autoimmune disease.

Our IV Lounge is currently accepting new patients. IV therapy drips are freshly compounded daily with safe ingredients every day. Functional medicine lab testing may be conducted to confirm nutritional shortcomings; a complete diagnostic session will also be conducted prior to your first vitamin drip treatments.

Don’t let nutritional deficiencies hinder your health goals. Talk to our health care team about replenishing your key vitamins with IV therapy in Toronto – click here to request your initial consultation.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website.

References:

“8 Fast Facts About Calcium” for Healthline, medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, R.D., L.D. — By Summer Fanous — Updated on August 14, 2018, viewed on December 4, 2022.

“Benefits and sources of calcium” for Medical News Today, Medically reviewed by Kathy W. Warwick, R.D., CDE, Nutrition — By Tim Newman on January 28, 2020, viewed on December 5, 2022.

“Calcium” from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, viewed on December 5, 2022.

“Calcium” from the National Institutes of Health, updated on October 6, 2022, viewed on December 4, 2022.

“Calcium” from Osteoporosis Canada, viewed on December 4, 2022. 

“Calcium and calcium supplements: Achieving the right balance,” by the Mayo Clinic Staff, updated November 1, 2022, viewed on December 5, 2022. 

“Calcium and Vitamin D: Important at Every Age” from National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center, viewed on December 6, 2022.

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Institute of Medicine (US) Committee to Review Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin D and Calcium; Ross AC, Taylor CL, Yaktine AL, et al., editors. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2011. 2, Overview of Calcium. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK56060/

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