Its impossible to have a dietary calcium deficiency?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by B on May 9, 2010 at 3:40am

http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2007nl/feb/whenfriendsask.htm

I've read this passage before, good to see again:

As long ago as 1978 Paterson wrote in the Postgraduate Medical Journal, “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.”

(Paterson CR. Calcium requirements in man: a critical review. Postgrad Med J. 1978 Apr;54(630):244-8.)

Mcdougall says calcium deficiency only causes disease in exceptionally rare cases ('nutritional rickets'), often by intake of foods high in phytic acid (which impair calcium absorption) in extremely young children. normally rickets is caused by insufficient vitamin D.

the point of the article is that we don't need milk to get enough calcium which we already know. you CAN become deficient in calcium but it sounds like it's REALLY hard to do if you eat a plant based diet. even inuit children on a high meat diet who consume very little calcium (~100mg/day) don't get nutritional rickets.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Aj on May 9, 2010 at 7:19am

Great info! Thanks!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Durianwriter on May 9, 2010 at 4:26am

What about osteoporosis? Isn't this caused by the body pulling from its store of calcium in the bones for other uses? What about stories I have heard of pregnant women losing teeth due to the body pulling calcium for use in building a baby?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by B on May 9, 2010 at 5:01am

osteoporosis is never caused solely by dietary calcium deficiency. all the calcium in our bones is there to stay unless we're consuming antinutrients/acidic minerals etc. milk has tons of calcium, way more than we need, but consuming cow's milk in excess of our calcium needs leads to both negative calcium balance (net loss of calcium stores) and BMD loss (long term, short term there is BMD gain while excess calcium is stored in the bones).

it may be that nursing mothers have higher dietary calcium requirements, but if a mother is experiencing a net loss of calcium it would only be because of the diet if the foods she were eating were totally deficient in calcium (all meat/refined foods) and/or she was eating a very low calcium diet with foods high in phytates and other anti-nutrients.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Fruitlicious on May 9, 2010 at 7:01am

Calcium issues aren't about deficiency, but about imbalances. Hence why folks eating tons of calcium but also high-phosphorus foods (like dairy) can still develop osteoporosis, but you'll never be able to pinpoint a case of calcium deficiency in isolation.

Wow, this is really a new insight for me, Denise. Thanks for putting the calciumissue in this context.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Aj on May 9, 2010 at 7:20am

Agreed!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by DURIANRIDER on July 9, 2010 at 5:13pm

McDougalls statement is misleading??, then please show us the calcium deficiencies from someone following a low calcium diet Denise!! :)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Anna on May 9, 2010 at 10:40am

Well, if they're counting societies that consume dairy in large amounts as "high calcium diets" ... then his statement makes sense. Because, if you're vegan, or living in China or Japan ... you're not consuming dairy, and maybe that counts as a "low calcium diet." Countries who consume the least dairy have the least incidence of osteoporosis.

So, maybe it was in that context?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jacqui on May 9, 2010 at 12:07pm

Do you mean that people in China don't consume dairy or that it isn't as available? When I was there in 2008 it was just as prominent in variety and grocery stores as here in North America...is the incidence rising there I wonder now that they are starting to adopt a more SAD diet in larger cities? There were certainly no lack of American fast food chains either - sadly....

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Anna on May 9, 2010 at 2:48pm

Yes, sorry, I meant their "traditional" diets ... as opposed to what they're adapting now. I hate seeing all these fast food places opening up everywhere, and cultures taking on more SAD characteristics. Terrible.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by CHANG-YU on May 16, 2010 at 12:46am

In Far East Asia, people are ditching their traditional diet of fruit, veggie and rice for SAD fast food meat, dairy diet. It is most obvious in cities. It's so SAD.

Taiwan is, the only country (in East Asia) I know, turning around to healthful (mostly vegetarian, some vegan foods) diet, tiny bit of raw food movement, organic farming, etc. Last year I visited, people buy their foods mainly in traditional open markets, clearly see people carry large % of veggie and fruit. I'll post some photos soon.

When I was little (after weaning from formula milk, yuk, my parents were brain washed), I ate at least 50% raw fresh fruit (sweet and non-sweet) until I discover 100% raw lifestyle.

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page