Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body. It not only plays a critical role in the building and maintaining of strong bones and teeth but it also plays a major role in blood clotting, the contraction of skeletal and heart muscles, the effectiveness of electrical impulses passing through neurons, the maintenance of osmotic balance in the body's cells and proper blood vessel tone. Studies indicate that calcium supplements could reduce the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) by nearly half.

Calcium also plays a critical role in blood clotting. It acts as a bridge between clotting proteins and platelet membranes and is a major component in both skeletal and smooth muscle contraction. Calcium helps adjust the electrical activity of nerve cells in our bodies and initiates the changes in sodium and potassium conductance. It can contribute to the proper osmotic balance of the body and it has been proven beneficial in maintaining proper blood pressure levels.

Calcium deficiency in children may lead to rickets, resulting in bone deformities and growth retardation. In adults, calcium deficiency may cause osteomalacia. Calcium deficiency has also been associated with muscle spasms and leg cramps, and has been shown to play a role in high blood pressure and osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a process in which bone is being "resorbed" or destroyed at a faster rate than it is being formed. This results in an equal loss of both bone minerals and the organic matrix. A decrease in height and an increase in headaches are generally the initial complaints. Ultimately, weight-bearing bones such as the vertebrae and hip become more susceptible to fracture.

Many physicians recommend calcium supplements in an effort to prevent osteoporosis. Currently, osteoporosis affects over one-third of postmenopausal women in this country. Recent clinical data suggest that aging men are also susceptible to this health condition.