Children have risks of being short due to calcium excess
Why does calcium excess make children have short stature?
Calcium is a very important element in human life, accounting for a large number in bones, teeth, toenails and fingernails. It also strengthens the immune system and participates in the elasticity of muscle cells and in coagulation. Plus, it is a major component in the formation of bones and teeth in young children. If children are suffering from calcium deficiency, they will grow slowly and be stunted.
The process of premature bone aging will cause many bone defects in children
However, the excessive supply of calcium to the body also causes adverse impacts on health. When the body receives too much calcium, high levels of calcium in the blood can enter the bones, which can lead to premature bone stiffness and restriction in bone development. The ossified bones will make children stop growing taller and become shorter than their peers. The premature bone aging is the cause of the risk of a series of bone defects in children such as curvature of the spine, humpback, flat chest, bow legs, etc.
The increased intake of calcium causes the kidneys to work continuously to boost the excretion of calcium through the urine. If this condition persists, it can easily lead to diseases such as ureteral stones and kidney stones. Having too much calcium hinders the process of absorption of other micronutrients, especially iron, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, and causes malnutrition or illness in children. Calcium excess also causes gastrointestinal disturbances, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, frequent constipation.
Fatigue, dizziness, nausea, thirst, and frequent urination are the most obvious signs of calcium excess. Nevertheless, in order to obtain precise results, you should have a health check.
How to add proper calcium supplementation in children?
Parents should pay attention to the age of their children to add proper calcium supplementation
The body's calcium requirements vary with age and primarily depend on bone development in each individual. According to WHO, the calcium requirements of children will vary with the following stages:
Children under 6 months old need 300 mg calcium/day; children from 7 to 12 months old: 400 mg/day; children from 1 to 3 years old: 500 mg/day; children from 4 to 6 years old: 600 mg/day; children from 7 to 9 years old: 700 mg/day; 10 years old children: 1000 mg/day; people from 11 to 24 years old: 1200 mg/day.
The safest way for calcium supplementation in children is to strengthen the intake of foods which contain high mineral levels such as shrimp, crab, fish, tiny shrimp, broccoli, etc. Excessive calcium from food intake will be excreted. According to some experts, parents should not let their children use calcium supplements. Instead, they should let their children use dietary supplements which contain Calcium. Calcium is the main building block of your growing bones. Thanks to its super micro size (<60 m), it is absorbed rapidly through the intestinal membrane. As the result, Calcium is safe for long-term use.
