Calcium level in your labs

We all know we need to take calcium, right?  And when we get labs done, one of the things they check is the calcium level in our blood.  What we need to understand, though, is that the calcium level in our blood really tells us very little about our calcium intake/absorption.

See, if the calcium level in our blood drops too low, our muscles cannot contract.  The heart is a muscle and if it cannot contract, as in beat, we drop dead.  So if we don't take in enough calcium or don't absorb the calcium we take in for some reason (like if our vitamin D level is too low), our bodies produce extra parathyroid hormone, which sucks calcium out of our bones to keep that level in our blood good.  As long as you have bones and teeth to suck calcium out of, that calcium level in your blood will likely be OK. 

If it drops low, it may mean you have problems with your endocrine system or other potentially serious health problems, but it doesn't mean you aren't getting enough calcium.

For lab results that tell you about calcium, what you want to know is your D level and PTH.  If the D is below 80, that means you won't absorb calcium well, no matter how much you take. Doesn't mean you won't absorb any, you will.  But maybe not enough and you will be at increased risk for osteoporosis as well as other unpleasant things.

If the PTH is on the high side (even in the normal range, just on the high side), it suggests you are indeed leaching calcium out of your bones.

Some surgeons do not routinely order a PTH when they order labs.  If yours doesn't, ask for it.

At one year out, you should get a bone density scan to see the true state of your bones.  However, you don’t want to wait ‘til then to at least try to get enough calcium and keep your vitamin D level above 80.  If you get a bone density scan and find out you’ve suffered bone loss, you’re already in trouble.

Thanks Kelly. This always confuses me. I'm bookmarking your explanation=)

I do remember a discussion on this topic a couple of years ago--probably more than once.  I've stressed my D issues and the importance of a dry D3 for years, as I had D issues early post op.  3 years ago I began taking 4 of the 50K IU dry D3 daily to get my levels above 80.  I had labs in Oct., 2010, and my D was at a 65. I now have increased my D3 to one 50K per day, in an effort to get to the 80+ level.  I also had a bone scan done around the same time as my labs.  I don't have osteperoisis, but am in the grey area (between normal and ostoperosis) called ostopenia.    I do take calcium citrate daily, normally at 1800mg per day.  I do forget my mid day calcium once in a while, so at mininimum, I get 1200mg.  And yes, your calcium blood levels will not tell you an accurate reading of calcium, hence my recent bone scan.  DAVE

Pssst, Dave. You were taking 4 of the D per WEEK. A newbie might think you were taking 200,000 per day and not getting D. LOL

I know you clarified you're now at 1 per day, but the "4" struck me and I KNOW what you were taking!

I'm so glad you are such a strong supporter of pursuing your D levels to keep those bones! You're too nice to turn into jello!

Besides, your cats need their slaves intact.

My bad.  I forgot per week in that sentence.  Thanks. DAVE