title: Calcium requirements in man: a critical review.
abstract: Many official bodies give advice on desirable intakes of calcium but no clear evidence of a calcium deficiency disease in otherwise normal people has ever been given. In Western countries the usual calcium intake is of the order of 800-1000 mg/day; in many developing countries figures of 300-500 mg/day are found. There is no evidence that people with such a low intake have any problems with bones or teeth. It seems likely that normal people can adapt to have a normal calcium balance on calcium intakes as low as 150-200 mg/day and that this adaptation is sufficient even in pregnancy and lactation. Inappropriate concern about calcium intake may divert attention and resources from more important nutritional problems.
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000172:deficiency; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012279:Rickets / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D002118:Calcium