Calcium for nursing?

Question:
Dear Doc

She asked me and I said would ask you.  Aren't you the lucky one.    She is the one who they thought was underweight, etc.  Could the mother not be getting enough calcium and, therefore, not giving enough to baby?    From being a Mom myself, I don't think so - the baby saps every ounce out of you.

She is now taking one half of a Total Children's Chewable per day.  Okay with you?

All the best to you and yours,

Sincerely,


Answer:
Good question. 

This is similar to another question that I often get "If my calcium levels are normal, do I need to take a calcium supplement?"

OK, so calcium is one of the many electrolytes in the blood that is tightly regulated through homeostasis. Calcium is required for every muscle fiber movement and every brain transmission. Too much in your bloodstream can cause you to have a heart attack and too little can cause you to heart failure. This means that your blood will steal calcium from your bones and gut to ensure it has enough to run these important functions. A person with a normal calcium blood level but poor calcium intake (through calcium rich foods) will ultimately have significant osteoporosis. 

So what about mom's milk? There used to be an old wives' tale (back in the old days) that a woman will loose one tooth per child. This is because the baby steals the calcium from the mom during pregnancy and nursing. 

If mom is using calcium to run most aspects of her own body and dumping 5.9 mg with every nursing event, obviously mom needs more calcium. Human milk averages 200-340 mg/liter or 5.9-10.1 mg/oz calcium [Hamosh 1991, Riordan & Auerbach 1999].

Here are some considerations:

Diet high in calcium - Eat foods high in calcium and let the body decide on the dosage.
Supplement calcium - Studies show that calcium folate absorbs 80%, calcium citrate absorbs 66%, while calcium carbonate absorbs only 22%. Mom needs 1000 to 1500 mg every day. What is she getting through diet and what does she need to supplement?

Food high in Calcium (it is important to stay away from dairy as much as possible)

Food  Calcium (mg) per serving Soy beverage, calcium-fortified, 8 ounces 80-500 Tofu, processed with calcium sulfate 200-330 Orange juice, calcium-fortified, 6 ounces 200-260 Ready-to-eat cereal, calcium-fortified, 1 cup 100-1,000 Broccoli, cooked 94 Almonds 89 Almond butter 86 Tofu, processed with nigari 80-230 Soy milk, commercial, plain 80 Blackstrap molasses 400 Collard greens, cooked 357 Sardines, canned in oil, with bones, 3 ounces 324 Cheddar cheese, 1.5 ounces 306 Calcium-fortified orange juice 300 Mozzarella, part skim, 1.5 ounces 275 Turnip greens, cooked 249 Tempeh 215 Salmon, pink, canned, solids with bone, 3 ounces 181 Kale, cooked 179 Soybeans, cooked 175 Okra, cooked 172 Bok choy, cooked 158 Mustard greens, cooked 152 Tahini 128 Spinach, cooked, ½ cup 120 Turnip greens, boiled, ½ cup 99 Kale, cooked, 1 cup 94 Kale, raw, 1 cup 90 Chinese cabbage, raw, 1 cup 74 Tortilla, flour, ready-to-bake/fry, one 6" diameter 37 Broccoli, raw, ½ cup 21 Bread, whole-wheat, 1 slice 20 Age Daily Calcium Intake (mg) 0-6 month 210 7-12 month 270 1-3 year 500 4-8 year 800 9-18 year 1300 19-50 year 1500 Over 50 year 1500


Caveats - 
You can get all the calcium you need without ever using dairy!
Also try to avoid calcium fortified foods - try to eat foods that already contain calcium; they will absorb the best.
For supplements, calcium absorptions requires 2:1 ratio of calcium to magnesium, 600 to 800 IU vitamin D, and an acidic stomach. (NO TUMS)
Look at medications that interfere with calcium absorption
  • antacids
  • cholesterol drugs
  • laxatives
  • birth control pills
  • antibiotics
  • diuretics
  • pain drugs
  • anti-inflammatory drugs
  • anticonvulsants drugs
  • anti-cancer drugs
Also calcium enters through the mouth but only absorbs if the gut is healthy, so ensure there is a good variety of gut bacteria (probiotics). 

Let me know your thoughts,

In Health,

Patrick
 
Dr. Patrick Garrett
President / CEO
Intelligent Designs, LLC 
Natural Medicine Seminars
Discount Lab Work
316-283-5708

American Board of Functional Medicine, Diplomate Functional Medicine / Nutrition
American Association of Integrative Medicine, Diplomate in Clinical Nutrition
Harvard Medical School Postgraduate Association, Member
American Association of Integrative Medicine, Member
American Academy of Functional Medicine, Chairman of the Board of Directors
American Board of Functional Medicine, Chairman of the Board of Directors
Posted by Functional Medicine at 8/20/2010 8:07 AM
Categories: Doctor On Call
Tags: calcium baby nursing breastfeeding
 

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