Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D is essential for strong bones, because it helps the body to metabolize calcium from the diet. Improper calcium absorption due to Vitamin D deficiency doesn’t allow the bone tissues to mineralize, leading to soft bones and skeletal deformities, a condition also termed as Rickets.
Alcohol Abuse
Excessive consumption of alcohol adversely effects bone density in multiple ways. Alcohol hampers bone growth and remodelling process leading to low bone density. Additionally, excessive alcohol consumption interferes with the working of hormones that regulate the calcium level in the blood. For example, alcohol negates working of steroid reproductive hormones and growth hormones that indirectly control Calcium metabolism in the body. Also, alcohol abuse damages liver. This results in absence of the enzymes needed to convert vitamin D, hence further hampering calcium absorption.
Parathyroidism
Parathyroids control the level of calcium in the blood and hence eventually calcium concentration in the bones. This therefore determines the strength and density of the bones.
If the calcium levels in the body fall due to insufficient intake of dietary calcium, it results into excessive release of parathyroid hormone. This leads to lower calcium levels in the plasma stream causing the brain run-downs as well as muscle spasms.
Consumption of caffeine and soda
Caffeine and sodas contain high amounts of phosphoric acid and phosphates which leech the calcium out of the bones.
Excessive Sodium Intake
High quantities of sodium in the blood stream could also be behind lower calcium levels. As sodium facilitates absorption of calcium into urine, this can result into excessive excretion of this essential mineral. As much more Calcium is being rejected from the blood stream due to high Sodium levels, Calcium levels rastically drop in the blood. The blood then compensates for its lower levels by absorbing more calcium from the bones, leading to Hypocalcemia
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