Inadequateintakeofcalciummayprimarilyresultinboneandteethrelatedissuesinkids.Readontolearnmoreabouttherisksassociatedwithcalciumdeficiencyinkids.Itisacommonlyknownfactthatmilk(whichisaheavilycalciumdominantproduct)isamustinkid’sdietplans.Youmusthavealsoheardabouthowcalciumisthebuildingblockforbonesandteeth.However,thefactisthatmostchildrenstilldonotgettherequireddoseofcalciumintheirdietsleadingtoavarietyofproblems.Herearesomeissuesthatcouldcropupduetocalciumdeficiency.InthisarticleCorrectCalciumDosageCalciumDeficiencyandPoorBoneHealthCalciumDeficiencyandPoorIntestinalHealthCalciumDeficiencyandPoorBrainHealthSignsofCalciumDeficiencyCorrectCalciumDosageTheInstituteofMedicinehasissuedspecificunitsofcalciumforkidsofdifferentagegroups.Childrenbetweentheages1to3yearsshouldconsumeaminimumof700mgofcalciumeachday.Childrenbetweentheages4to8yearsshouldconsumeaminimumof1000mgofcalciumeachday.Childrenbetweentheages9to18yearsshouldconsumeaminimumof1300mgofcalciumeachday.Inadditiontocalciumactiveintakeof600IUofVitaminDisalsorequiredsothatthecalciumcanbeproperlyabsorbedintothebloodstream.CalciumDeficiencyandPoorBoneHealthProperintakeofcalciumduringthefirst20yearsoflifecontributesalottothedevelopmentofastrongskeletalandneuromuscularsystem.Calciumdeficiencycancontributetorickets(characterisedbydeformitiesinlegsandwrists)andotherbonedeformities.Calciumdeficientkidsare70%morepronetodevelopingosteoporosisandbonefractures.CalciumDeficiencyandPoorIntestinalHealthResearchsaysthatinadequatelevelsofcalciuminthebodyaffectstheintestinalhealthandleadstopoorabsorptionofnutrients.ThisconditionoftenleadstoCeliacdiseaseinteensandkids.IfthereisadeficiencyofbothCalciumandVitaminDinthebodytheninflammatoryboweldiseaseisoneofthesideeffects.Childrenwhosufferfrominflammatoryboweldiseasehaveweakdigestivepowerandsufferfromseverevomitingspells.CalciumDeficiencyandPoorBrainHealthThereisalotofresearchbeingdoneonthelinkbetweencalciumdeficiencyinchildhoodandtheincidenceofAlzheimer’sdiseaseinmatureyears.Ithasbeenfoundthatkidswhoarecalciumdeficientintheirearlyyearshavea50%higherchanceofcontractingAlzheimer’sdiseaselaterintheirlives.Ithasbeennotedthatinsufficientlevelofcalciuminthebloodstreamcanleadtodeficienciesinbrainfunction.Insomechildrenthedeficientcalciumlevelshavebeenstronglylinkedtoanxietyattacks,nervousnessandheadachespells.SignsofCalciumDeficiencyIfyourkiddisplaysoneormoreofthebelowmentionedsymptomsthenitcouldbeasuresignofcalciumdeficiency.MuscleCrampsareasurefiresignofcalciumdeficiency.Kidswhoarecalciumdeficientmaycomplainofanacheintheirunderarms,thighsandarmswhilemovingabout.Ifyourkidhasfrequentproblemswhilefallingasleepthenitmaybeasignofcalciumdeficiency.Inothercaseskidswhoarecalciumdeficienttendtogetupmultipletimesatnight.Ifthereisadelayinthetoothformationofyourchildthenitisasignofcalciumdeficiency.Weaknailswithbrittleedgesarealsoatelltalesignofcalciumdeficiencyasnailsrequireadequatecalciumtodevelop.GirlswithinsufficientcalciumintheirbodiestendtotakealongertimetoreachpubertyandalsosufferfrommenstrualproblemsIncaseyourecognizeoneormoreofthesesignsinyourkidsthendonothesitateincontactingyourpaediatrician.Earlyinterventionwithsupplementsanddietarychangescanhelpreducetherisksofloweredcalciumlevelsinthebody.Whatarethecausesofcalciumdeficiencyinkids?Whicharetherisksassociatedwithcalciumdeficiencyinkids?Howtopreventcalciumdeficiencyinkids?Discusshere.
Inadequate intake of calcium may primarily result in bone and teeth related issues in kids. Read on to learn more about the risks associated with calcium deficiency in kids. It is a commonly known fact that milk (which is a heavily calcium dominant product) is a must in kid’s diet plans. You must have also heard about how
calcium is the building block for bones and teeth. However, the fact is that most children still do not get the required dose of calcium in their diets leading to a variety of problems. Here are some issues that could crop up due to calcium
deficiency.
Correct Calcium Dosage
The Institute of Medicine has issued specific units of calcium for kids of different age groups. Children between the ages 1 to 3 years should consume a minimum of 700 mg of calcium each day. Children between the ages 4 to 8 years should consume a minimum of 1000 mg of calcium each day. Children between the ages 9 to 18 years should consume a minimum of 1300 mg of calcium each day. In addition to calcium active intake of 600 IU of Vitamin D is also required so that the calcium can be properly absorbed into the blood stream.
Calcium Deficiency and Poor Bone Health
Proper intake of calcium during the first 20 years of life contributes a lot to the development of a strong skeletal and neuromuscular system. Calcium deficiency can contribute to rickets (characterised by deformities in legs and wrists) and other
bone deformities. Calcium deficient kids are 70% more prone to developing osteoporosis and bone fractures.
Calcium Deficiency and Poor Intestinal Health
Research says that inadequate levels of calcium in the body affects the intestinal health and leads to poor absorption of nutrients. This condition often leads to Celiac disease in teens and kids. If there is a deficiency of both Calcium and Vitamin D in the body then inflammatory bowel disease is one of the side effects. Children who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease have weak digestive power and suffer from severe vomiting spells.
Calcium Deficiency and Poor Brain Health
There is a lot of research being done on the link between calcium deficiency in childhood and the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease in mature years. It has been found that kids who are calcium deficient in their early years have a 50% higher chance of contracting Alzheimer’s disease later in their lives. It has been noted that insufficient level of calcium in the bloodstream can lead to deficiencies in
brain function. In some children the deficient calcium levels have been strongly linked to anxiety attacks, nervousness and headache spells.
Signs of Calcium Deficiency
If your kid displays one or more of the below mentioned symptoms then it could be a sure sign of calcium deficiency.
Muscle Cramps are a sure fire sign of calcium deficiency. Kids who are calcium deficient may complain of an ache in their underarms, thighs and arms while moving about.
If your kid has frequent problems while falling asleep then it may be a sign of calcium deficiency. In other cases kids who are calcium deficient tend to get up multiple times at night.
If there is a delay in the
tooth formation of your child then it is a sign of calcium deficiency.
Weak nails with brittle edges are also a tell tale sign of calcium deficiency as nails require adequate calcium to develop.
Girls with insufficient calcium in their bodies tend to take a longer time to reach puberty and also suffer from menstrual problems
In case you recognize one or more of these signs in your kids then do not hesitate in contacting your paediatrician. Early intervention with supplements and dietary changes can help reduce the risks of lowered calcium levels in the body.
What are the causes of calcium deficiency in kids? Which are the risks associated with calcium deficiency in kids? How to prevent calcium deficiency in kids? Discuss here.
