context: The mineral calcium is well-known for its key role in bone health. Calcium also helps maintain heart rhythm, muscle function, and more. Because of its health benefits, calcium is one of the best-selling supplements in the U. S. Calcium is crucial in growing new bone and maintaining bone strength. Calcium supplements are standard for treating and preventing osteoporosis -- weak and easily broken bones -- and its precursor, osteopenia. Calcium is used for many other conditions. It's an ingredient in many antacids. Doctors also use calcium to control high levels of magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium in the blood. There's good evidence that calcium can help prevent or control high blood pressure. It also may reduce PMS symptoms as well as play a role in preventing certain cancers. According to some research, calcium with vitamin D, for instance, may help protect against breast cancer in premenopausal women. Other research, however, has not come to this conclusion. Calcium also has been looked at for other uses, for example, aiding weight loss. But so far, these studies have been inconclusive. The people at highest risk of a calcium deficiency are postmenopausal women. Since dairy products are one of the most common sources of calcium, people who are lactose intolerant or vegan are also at increased risk of calcium deficiency. The Institute of Medicine has set Dietary Reference Intakes ( DRI) and Recommended Daily Allowances ( RDA) for calcium. Getting this amount from diet, with or without supplements, may be enough to keep your bones healthy. Doctors may recommend higher doses. Category Calcium: ( RDA) 0-6 months 200 mg/day 7-12 months 260 mg/day 1-3 years 700 mg/day 4-8 years 1,000 mg/day 9-18 years 1,300 mg/day 19-50 years 1,000 mg/day 51- 70 years 1,200 mg/day (women) 1,000 mg/day (men) 70+ years 1,200 mg/day Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding do not need extra calcium beyond the recommendations above. The tolerable upper intake levels ( UL) of a supplement are the highest amount that most people can take safely. For calcium, it's 1000 mg/day for infants 0-6 months, 1500 mg/day for infants 7-12 months, 2,500 mg/day for children 1-8 years, 3000 mg/day for children/teens 9-18 years, 2500 mg/day for adults 19-50 years, and 2000 mg/day for adults over the age of 51 years. In general, it's best to take calcium supplements with food. For better absorption, don't take more than 500 milligrams at one time. Split up larger doses over the course of the day. For the body to make use of calcium properly, you also need to get enough vitamin D and magnesium. Good sources of calcium include: Milk Cheese Yogurt Broccoli, kale, and Chinese cabbage Fortified cereals, juices, soy products, and other foods Tofu Experts say that most adults in the U. S. don't get enough calcium. While improving one's diet will help, many people do need to take calcium supplements as well. Side effects. At normal doses, calcium supplements may cause bloating, gas, and constipation. Very high doses of calcium can cause kidney stones. Research has found an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes in some people taking calcium supplements in addition to a diet high in calcium, though the true accuracy of these findings is being actively debated by experts. Interactions. If you take any prescription or over-the-counter medicines regularly, ask your doctor if it's safe to use calcium supplements. Calcium can interact with drugs for heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy, and other conditions. Excessive doses of vitamin D can result in dangerously high levels of calcium. High doses of calcium can also interfere with the absorption of other minerals, like iron and zinc. In general, take calcium one to two hours apart from other supplements or medications. When taken at the same time, calcium can bind those products and pass them unabsorbed from the body. Risks. People with kidney disease, heart problems, sarcoidosis, or bone tumors should not take calcium supplements unless their doctors suggest it. Overdose. Excessive levels of calcium in the blood can cause nausea, dry mouth, abdominal pain, irregular heartbeat, confusion, and even death. There is no need to use products identified as "coral calcium." Claims made that coral calcium is superior to regular calcium are unsubstantiated. Also, coral calcium products may contain dangerous amounts of lead.