We have all heard the warnings about getting excessive salt in our diets, especially with regard to high blood pressure. However, sodium has a “counterpart” as well – calcium. This means that a lot of table salt – known to be a sodium compound – goes hand in hand with reduced calcium levels. This has been proven through animal experiments and could prove a negative effect on human bone density.
Homeostasis in medicine is, among other things, the balance among the electrolytes in the body. These electrolytes include sodium, potassium, chlorine and calcium. The kidneys are often instrumental in stabilizing this equilibrium, by deciding what is excreted or retained.
High amounts of common salt lead to an increased loss of calcium.
The different electrolytes interact with each other
A Canadian study has shown a very interesting phenomenon in animal experiments: Calcium (Ca++) and sodium (Na+) – balance are regulated in the kidneys via one and the same system, the sodium-hydrogen exchanger NHE3. Up to now, this transport system was only associated with salt increases in the intestine and excretion via the kidneys.
The study was able to prove that high amounts of table salt – a kind of sodium build-up – lead to increased calcium excretion. A similar analogy may also apply to the absorption of calcium.
Calcium deficiency reduces bone density
This calcium deficiency phenomenon was definitely found in laboratory animals that do not have the NHE3 transport system for genetic reasons. The unfortunate result: the resulting calcium deficiency led to a reduction in bone density. Although “only” a first result in laboratory animals. However, since humans also regulate their sodium via this transport system, an analogy is more than likely.
The body needs about 1,000 mg calcium daily.
Calcium performs a variety of functions in the human body, but – together with its partner vitamin D – is essential for healthy teeth and bones and is needed to balance the acid-base balance. Calcium is mainly found in dairy products, especially cheese, mineral water and vegetables such as fennel, broccoli, or kale.
According to the D-A-CH reference values published by the German, Austrian and Swiss nutrition societies, people from the age of 15 need about 1,000-1,200 mg calcium per day.
More information on calcium and its functions in the body can be found in the overview article here.
