Can you intake too much calcium

Donald Brown, primary care practitioner at Houston Methodist. Many people don't get enough calcium, actually. But the good news is that this can often be corrected with dietary changes, especially in those younger people who might be lacking.

They drink milk! And we should, too. But what about getting too much calcium? It's an especially relevant question for people who struggle to get enough calcium in their diet and wonder whether they should take supplements. Can calcium supplements ever do more harm than good? The average adult needs 1, mg of calcium per day. The amount increases to 1, mg per day for women over the age of 50 and men over the age of There's some disagreement, however, surrounding recommendations.

Other causes of hypercalcemia include cancer, certain other medical disorders, some medications, and taking too much of calcium and vitamin D supplements. Signs and symptoms of hypercalcemia range from nonexistent to severe.

Treatment depends on the cause. You might not have signs or symptoms if your hypercalcemia is mild. More-severe cases produce signs and symptoms related to the parts of your body affected by the high calcium levels in your blood. Examples include:. Contact your doctor if you develop signs and symptoms that might indicate hypercalcemia, such as being extremely thirsty, urinating frequently and having abdominal pain. Besides building strong bones and teeth, calcium helps muscles contract and nerves transmit signals.

Dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheese pack a lot of calcium, but many other foods contain the mineral as well. Kale, Chinese cabbage and broccoli are good sources of calcium, Michos says, and many foods such as cereals, tofu, orange juice and soy milk are fortified with the nutrient. The body can only process or mg at once, yet people who swallow supplements often take much larger amounts in a single sitting.

But too much of a good thing can negate any health benefits — and even pose health risks. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Why it matters: Calcium plays a critical role in building and maintaining healthy bones.

Benefits may also include weight loss, and reducing colon cancer risk. For decades, experts have recommended calcium supplements to prevent osteoporosis which is responsible for fractures that cause many elderly men and women to lose their independence — and sometimes their lives.

Researchers believe that without adequate vitamin D to help absorb it, the extra calcium settles in the arteries instead of the bones. There, it helps form plaques that threaten the heart and brain. Excess calcium can also cause muscle pain, mood disorders, abdominal pain and kidney stones.