Calcium is not just an essential mineral for bone health, but its importance extends to managing and possibly alleviating symptoms in conditions like osteoarthritis. Given below are compelling reasons and references supporting the significance of calcium in osteoarthritis.
The Importance of Calcium in Osteoarthritis Management:
1. Bone Health:
Calcium is indispensable for maintaining strong bones. Osteoarthritis is characterized by the breakdown of cartilage in joints, and having robust bones can provide the necessary support to these affected joints, reducing fracture risks and other complications (4).
2. Calcium and Cartilage Health:
Beyond bone health, calcium also plays a role in cartilage metabolism. Cartilage is the connective tissue that cushions joints, and maintaining its health is crucial in managing osteoarthritis. Adequate calcium intake can help support the synthesis and maintenance of cartilage in people suffering from osteoarthritis, where cartilage breakdown is a key feature. Ensuring you have sufficient calcium in your daily diet can help support cartilage health and minimize further deterioration, as well as potentially slowing down the progression of osteoarthritis. (5).
3. Joint Inflammation:
Calcium anti-inflammatory properties, potentially beneficial in reducing inflammation in osteoarthritic joints. Given that inflammation aggravates osteoarthritis symptoms like pain and stiffness, calcium could help modulate this inflammatory response (6).
4. Combined Nutrient Benefits:
Calcium’s beneficial effects are enhanced when combined with nutrients like vitamin D, crucial for calcium absorption and use. Thus, ensuring adequate levels of both can be a preventive and management strategy for osteoarthritis (7).
5. Evidence from Research:
Y. Zhang et al’s study associated higher calcium intake with a reduced risk of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (8). Similarly, G.J. Macfarlane et al’s observations suggested that adequate calcium and vitamin D can lessen the severity of knee osteoarthritis. (9).
Our bodies require calcium for muscle movement, nerve messaging, blood vessel function, and hormone release (1). Research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition highlighted that sufficient calcium intake was associated with a lower risk of symptomatic osteoarthritis in women. (2). Moreover, a review in the Journal of Orthopedic Surgery and Research concluded that combining calcium and vitamin D, can decrease joint pain and enhance physical function in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis sufferers (3).
Cal20
According to recent research, maintaining an optimal calcium intake, in combination with other nutrients, now stands as a cornerstone in osteoarthritis management. This is where a breakthrough product like Cal20 becomes key. Cal20 is a milk calcium mineral complex, uniquely formulated to not only deliver the benefits of elemental calcium but is also enhanced with Vitamin D, probiotics, and specific plant extracts.
The near 100% bioavailability of Cal20 sets it apart from common calcium supplements in the market, such as calcium carbonate and calcium citrate. While these typical supplements have an absorption rate as low as 2%, Cal20 ensures that almost the entirety of its elemental calcium content is available for the body to utilize. This heightened bioavailability means more efficient support for bone and cartilage health.
Cal20 mirrors the exact mineral composition and ratios of our bones. Its natural blend of elemental calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in the harmonious ratio of 2:1:0.3 as well as potassium, augments its efficacy.
Furthermore, the addition of Vitamin D in Cal20 guarantees superior calcium absorption and integration. Probiotics, on the other hand, help absorption by inhibiting the bond between phytic acid and calcium in the intestine. This allows calcium to be released and thus significantly improves its bioavailability which can further boost the absorption of nutrients and potentially also reduce inflammation. The inclusion of plant extracts, specifically soy isoflavones, brings additional benefits. Soy isoflavones have the dual benefit of stimulating bone osteoblasts – essentially nudging them into action to build bone and have also demonstrated potential in reducing symptoms commonly associated with menopause, such as hot flushes.
Conclusion
As we age, our body’s ability to efficiently absorb nutrients from food diminishes. Ideally, if we could fully harness all the nutrients from our diet, supplementation would be unnecessary. However, due to this decline in nutrient absorption with age and other variables, dietary supplements become crucial to bridge the gap and ensure our bodies receive the essential vitamins and minerals needed for optimal health and longevity.
For individuals battling osteoarthritis, a holistic product like Cal20, not only supports bone and cartilage health but also potentially attenuates symptoms due to its comprehensive and highly bioavailable formulation. Thus, understanding the pivotal role of calcium is fundamental, and with products like Cal20, one can access a multi-dimensional approach to osteoarthritis management.
References:
1. [Office of Dietary Supplements – Calcium](https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-Consumer/)
2. Chaganti RK, et al. *Am J Clin Nutr.* 2007.
3. Manoy P, et al. *J Med Assoc Thai.* 2012.
4. Weaver CM, in *Present Knowledge in Nutrition.* 2012.
5. Choi SJ, et al. *Osteoarthritis Cartilage.* 2019.
6. Zhang T, et al. *Nat Commun.* 2019.
7. Straub RH, et al. *Z Rheumatol.* 1998.
8. Zhang Y, et al. *Osteoarthritis Cartilage.* 2012.
9. Macfarlane GJ, et al. *Ann Rheum Dis.* 2014.
