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Calcium, Bone, and Life

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Osteoporosis

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

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Abstract

Calcium is the fifth most abundant element in the biosphere (after iron, aluminum, silicon, and oxygen). It is the stuff of limestone and marble, coral and pearls, seashells and eggshells, antlers and bones. Because calcium salts exhibit intermediate solubility, calcium is found both in solid form (rocks) and in solution. It was probably present in abundance in the watery environment in which life first appeared. Today, seawater contains approx 10 mmol calcium per liter (approx eight times higher than the calcium concentration in the extracellular water of higher vertebrates). Even fresh waters, if they support an abundant biota, typically contain calcium at concentrations of 1–2 mmol. In most soils, calcium exists as an exchangeable cation in the soil colloids. It is taken up by plants, whose parts typically contain from 0.1 to as much as 8% calcium. Generally, calcium concentrations are highest in the leaves, lower in the stems and roots, and lowest in the seeds.

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  1. Robert P. Heaney MD
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  1. Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    Eric S. Orwoll MD  & Michael Bliziotes MD  & 

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Heaney, R.P. (2003). Calcium, Bone, and Life. In: Orwoll, E.S., Bliziotes, M. (eds) Osteoporosis. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-278-4_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-278-4_13

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

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