Calcium across a woman’s lifespan: requirements, risks of deficiency, and preventive strategies
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Calcium is one of the key factors essential for maintaining normal body function. It is required for preserving the structural integrity of bone tissue and supporting numerous physiological processes. Maintaining a stable extracellular calcium concentration is a fundamental mechanism underlying normal physiological function, whereas calcium deficiency or disturbances in calcium metabolism may adversely affect not only bone health but also the function of other organs and body systems.This literature review analyzes calcium requirements in women throughout different stages of life, with particular emphasis on pregnancy, lactation, and menopause. Calcium demand increases substantially during pregnancy, when inadequate maternal calcium intake is associated with a higher risk of gestational complications, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm birth, low birth weight, impaired fetal skeletal mineralization, and maternal bone loss. During lactation, the maternal organism must maintain a constant calcium concentration in breast milk; therefore, insufficient dietary calcium intake results in calcium mobilization from maternal bones and teeth. Estrogen deficiency is the principal factor responsible for accelerated bone turnover accompanied by progressive bone loss, which is particularly pronounced in trabecular bone. This mechanism is observed in women with amenorrhea and is especially evident during menopause, when postmenopausal osteoporosis develops.Accordingly, ensuring adequate calcium intake is a key component of both the prevention and comprehensive management of osteoporosis, particularly in individuals at increased risk of bone loss. Current evidence supports calcium supplementation in women at risk of calcium deficiency and indicates the advantages of combined supplementation with calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K₂ to improve bone mineralization.Conclusions. Calcium plays a pivotal role in maintaining women’s bone health throughout the lifespan. Adequate calcium intake and supplementation in high-risk groups are appropriate strategies.
Source: Reproductive Endocrinology
Author: M.E. Kyrylchuk
Language: English
Subfield: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7203494371