Calcigard 250 mg 90 Tabs

The adult human body contains approximately 1,200 g of
calcium, of which about 99% is present in the skeleton.
Bone is constantly turning over, through a continuous
process of formation and resorption. In children and
adolescents, the rate of formation of bone mineral
predominates over the rate of resorption. In later life,
resorption predominates over formation. Therefore, in
normal aging, there is a gradual loss of bone.
The remaining 1% of total body calcium is found in the soft
tissues and plays important roles in such vital functions as
nerve conduction, muscle contraction, blood clotting,
membrane permeability, and hormonal signaling. Blood
calcium levels are carefully maintained within very narrow
limits by the interplay of several hormones (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol,
parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, estrogen,
and testosterone) which control calcium absorption and
excretion, as well as bone metabolism. Levels of soft tissue
calcium are maintained at the expense of bone calcium in the
face of inadequate calcium intake or absorption.
Intestinal calcium absorption is generally higher in children
than in adults and ranges from 15 to 75% of ingested
calcium. Adequate vitamin D status is necessary for normal
calcium absorption.
Osteoporosis afflicts a large proportion of the elderly in
developed countries. Caucasian and Asian women typically
have low peak bone densities, and therefore, are at the
greatest risk of developing osteoporosis. It is generally
accepted that obtaining enough dietary calcium throughout
life can significantly decrease the risk of developing
osteoporosis. Among other factors, such as regular exercise,
gender and race, calcium supplementation during childhood
and aldolescence appears to be a prerequisite for maintaining
adequate bone density later in life. But even elderly
osteoporotic patients can benefit significantly from
supplementation with dietary calcium.
Calcigard 250 provides calcium citrate which is a highly
available source of dietary calcium. It is more completely
absorbed than common calcium sources such as calcium
carbonate. Calcium citrate is also better tolerated than most
forms of calcium. Calcigard 250 does not give rise to
intestinal gas production (due to release of carbon dioxide),
bloating or constipation as is often experienced with other
calcium preparations.
Vitamin D (optional ingredient) is a key regulatory hormone
for calcium and bone metabolism. Adequate vitamin D
intake is important for ensuring normal calcium absorption
and maintaining proper calcium plasma levels. People living
in southern regions of the U.S. can derive significant
amounts of vitamin D from sunlight dependent synthesis in
the skin during the summer, whereas people in the northern
states have to rely more on foods and supplements for
adequate vitamin D status. This is why Calcigard 250 is
available both with and without vitamin D.