HLTH 230 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Vitamin D Deficiency, Vitamin K Deficiency, Chard
16 Jul 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
The most abundant mineral in the body. Majority of calcium in the body is found in the teeth and the bones & act as an important reserve for calcium when blood levels are low. Plays an important role in maintaining bone rigidity. To identify a deficiency one must investigate bone loss, as this acts as a more sensitive indicator of calcium levels in the body. Only 1% of calcium in the body is located in the blood and tissues, functioning to assist in muscle contraction, and neuronal signalling. On average, adults absorb approximately 25% of ingested calcium, whereas children and pregnant women absorb more (50-60%). Calcium absorption is enhanced by the presence of: Stomach acid the presence of acid acts to solubilize calcium, improving its absorption. Vitamin d (present in milk and milk products) Decreased secretion of stomach acid (occurs as a result of atrophic gastritis, which is common in the elderly)
