Calcium
Understand Calcium levels for bone strength, muscle function, and nerve health. Learn optimal mineral tracking for wellness.
What is Calcium?
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body, essential for bone and teeth formation, muscle contraction, nerve transmission, and blood clotting. Blood calcium levels are tightly regulated by hormones including parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamin D.
Why is it Tested?
Doctors order calcium to evaluate bone disorders, kidney problems, certain cancers, or symptoms like muscle cramps, irregular heartbeat, or numbness. It’s also monitored when taking medications that affect calcium levels or investigating unexplained fatigue.
Normal Ranges
Reference ranges vary by lab. General adult guidelines:
- Adults: 8.6–10.2 mg/dL
Blood calcium levels remain remarkably stable, with less than 1% of total body calcium circulating in blood. About half is bound to proteins, primarily albumin.
Reference ranges vary by authority. Track yours across multiple standards with automatic unit conversions in LabsVault.
What do Abnormal Results Mean?
Abnormal results are not a diagnosis. Always discuss your results with a qualified healthcare provider before making any medical decisions.
Low Calcium (Hypocalcemia)
Low calcium may indicate:
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Kidney disease
- Malabsorption disorders
- Low albumin levels (affecting protein-bound calcium)
High Calcium (Hypercalcemia)
Elevated calcium may point to:
- Primary hyperparathyroidism
- Certain cancers (lung, breast, kidney)
- Excessive vitamin D intake
- Prolonged immobility
- Some medications (thiazide diuretics, lithium)
How to Track Over Time
Tracking calcium trends helps identify gradual changes that might signal developing bone disease or hormonal imbalances. Since albumin affects calcium binding, consider corrected calcium for more accurate assessment when protein levels fluctuate.
Track your Calcium results over time
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