The ‘Real' Scoop on Calcium

Calcium is a macro mineral required by nearly every body system for proper function and maintenance. On the market today, there are tens of different sources of calcium, some absorbable, many not.

The RDA on calcium is about 800 mg. (milligrams) per day, however, like most RDA levels, this is greatly below the actual proven requirement for the body's regeneration capacity. The actual 30 day requirement is closer to an average of 3,500 mg. (some may need more, up to 5,000 mg. per month) or approximately 120 absorbed mg. per day.

The key is absorption. Unless a mineral can be measured as it passes through the intestine and into the blood at proper levels, it is unlikely that there is sufficient absorption. For instance, calcium derived from shell or earth metals does not break down at all, yet many products today use these forms of calcium. Even plant derived calcium's, or colloidal form's, cannot be absorbed efficiently by the body unless sufficient hydrochloric acid is present in the body (which relies on existing calcium levels). Colloidal calcium has a variable range that is very difficult to measure in that although it may be absorbed at a rate of 0% to 80%, usually the ppm (parts per million) is not sufficient to achieve the minimum true daily requirement, and the cofactors are not always present in the proper proportion.

Ionized calcium, which has already been ‘washed' with hydrochloric acid making it extremely bioavailable (so much so that it can be used topically as well as internally), has the highest level of absorbability. Once again, the problem lies in its ppm content which is difficult to measure in uptake, and the key factor in this, and all forms of calcium, is that it must have the proper ratios and presence of other minerals for it to be delivered properly into the blood, cells, and, finally, stored in the bones for rebuilding and storage.

Chelated Minerals

At this time, the only proven and measurable delivery of minerals is through the process known as Chelating. Chelate means ‘to bind to'. In this case, minerals are bound to specific amino acids, which by nature, are absorbed through the intestines at a normal rate of 97%. When a mineral, or vitamin, or enzyme, or any other nutrient (or particle) is attached or bound to an amino acid, it is a chelated element.

Thus, by nature, chelated minerals have proven to be the most effective means of delivering an exact amount of an element into the intestines and thus into the blood. If it is natural and the body determines it is a required nutrient (our body's are much smarter than we are) then it is delivered to the parts of the body that require feeding or storage.

With Calcium, the delivery process becomes even more complex due to the antagonist and protagonist nutrients that can help or hinder its absorption. When calcium is chelated, it has a proven absorption rate of 47% or greater. However, the mineral zinc and calcium compete for the same receptor sites in the intestine, so if zinc and calcium are presented in the intestines, one, or both, of these critical minerals will not be absorbed and a deficiency will occur.

For this reason, products that contain both calcium and zinc are typically self defeating. If a nutrient manufacturer truly understands the body and the natural laws of assimilation, then they will bind minerals, vitamins, enzyme's, etc., with amino acids (proteins) that attract to different receptor sites, if their is a concern for receptor competition. This eliminates the antagonist problem caused by competing nutrients in whatever form they are presented in the intestines.

Because this protagonist/antagonist relationship occurs with many of the body's nutritional requirements, it is essential for the manufacturer to understand micronutrientology very keenly.

Unicity Calcium Magnesium Complex

The absorption, assimilation, and storage of calcium is critical to proper bodily function in nearly every system of the body. Too little absorbed calcium will create deficiencies throughout the body, especially in the metabolic, reproductive, structural, and central nervous system. Too much unassimilated calcium will promote the formation of circulatory plaque, hardening of tissues, and stone formations in the bladder, kidneys and gall bladder. For this reason, calcium must be presented in the body with a proper combination of other nutrients to insure its uptake and efficacy.

To insure proper calcium requirements daily, the body needs approximately 120 mg. daily. The Enrich Calcium Magnesium Complex delivers a minimum of approximately 150 mg per serving. This is proven through the chelating process whereby 318 mg are presented and absorbed at a minimum of 47% or, 149.46 mg.

Magnesium must be present at a 1:1 ratio for proper assimilation in the blood and utilization in the body. The Enrich Calcium Magnesium Complex contains 176 mg. of chelated magnesium, however, absorption of chelated magnesium occurs at a minimum rate of 84% providing 148 mg. of absorbed magnesium providing the 1:1 ratio that is critical for proper assimilation and utilization of calcium and magnesium.

The vitamin, D, is another essential component of calcium uptake and those who do not get sufficient amounts of sunlight (Vitamin D is synthesized in the body when proper exposure to sunlight occurs and other nutrients are present in the body for its development), do not have sufficient levels of active Vitamin D for calcium's proper assimilation.

The trace mineral Manganese is another critical component of calcium and magnesium assimilation. It is the mineral that creates the enzymatic response that balances the proper assimilation of both calcium and magnesium. Without manganese, the ratio's may not be properly maintained once introduced in the blood stream.

The trace mineral boron, is essential in creating the storage of additional calcium in the bones where the body uses it (calcium along with collagen and water) to create new bone tissue. Without Boron, the body would not efficiently store calcium back into the bones, and thus the body would excrete any excess in the urine increasing the risk of osteoporosis and other degenerative disorders that require calcium stores for feeding and regenerating.

The delivery mechanism is important as well when dealing with nutriceutical formulas. Enrich uses the natural phyto chemicals, Malic Acid and Citric Acid, as its active agents to create proper delivery into the intestines. This insures that once the formula is presented in the stomach, that it activates proper enzyme response to start the delivery process.

There are a number of products on the market that are calcium supplements, most of which don't even come close to providing the proper elements for delivery. Anti-acids that put calcium in their products do so to offset the detrimental effect of the aluminum that is in the anti-acid which only serves to leach calcium from the bones.

Other calcium products deliver 1,500 mg. per daily dose but fail miserably since, if the form of calcium can be absorbed in the first place, it only assimilates at a rate of 2%-5%, or 30mg. to 75mg. far under the true daily requirement. Further, without the complete complex of Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin D, Manganese, and Boron, it is unlikely the proper absorption and assimilation will occur which in the long run creates further cellular malnutrition and resulting dysfunction.

Unicity Calcium Magnesium Complex has the highest proven rate of absorption, assimilation, and resulting efficacy of any product known to the writer at this date.

Reference: Doug Lawrence, Certified Medicinal Herbalist,
Member of The American Academy for Anti Aging Medicine