Posted by tealady on September 11, 2004, at 17:45:57
In reply to Calcium causing depress./apathy etc.?Larry, Others, posted by Jasmineneroli on September 6, 2004, at 23:04:30
> Hi Everyone:
>
> I have been taking calcium (combined carbonate and citrate) as part of good general supplement for the past month. A total of 500mg per day, plus whatever amount of calcium is included in Vit C Ester (1000mg), which I've taken for several years.
> Over the last few weeks, I've had an increase in headaches, drowsiness, apathy and a mild depression. The headache and low energy is my predominant concern. I swear the calcium has caused this, because about a year ago, I started supplementing with calcium (separately, not as part of a supplement) and I had the same symptoms.
> Is this possible? If so, how does calcium affect the brain, which neurotransmitters etc? I understand that calcium channels are part of many chemical relay systems, but is it possible that I'm overly sensitive to calcium and it causes these symptoms?
> I take 100mg of amino-acid chelated magnesium at night and have done so for about 6 months with good results for sleep and help with my anxiety disorder. The new supplement I am taking also has magnesium (chelate and citrate)200mg. Do I need more magnesium with the dose of calcium I'm taking? Or should I reduce the calcium?
> I had been thinking of increasing the magnesium anyway, to augment my low Celexa (10mg) and Clonazepam (.5mg) doses for GAD. What do you think? Appreciate any info you can give. Thanks a lot.
> JasHi Jas, Quick possible answer...try getting magnesium and calcium in a 1:1 ratio. Some folk actually go better with just magnesium but for most somewhere between 1:1 and 2:1 works best.
You are probably getting More than enough calcium from your calcium ascorbate..I don't have any at present to look at to find out how much calcium would be in it..it probably has elemental calcium listed amongst your ingredient breakdown..?
Have a look at this post of mine
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030828/msgs/255832.htmlYour symptoms are similar to those of a mild hypothyroid state..doesn't mean you are ..just possibly implies that the large amount of calcium carbonate you are taking (the only one study I previously knew of that was done on calcium used calcium carbonate and but it does kinda backup the idea of avoiding that form in particular for you. Maybe the carbonate form is worse, noone really knows I suspect)
Guess I'm trying to say the calcium appears to be making your metabolism function in a similar way.
It's especially noticeable for those on thyroid hormone replacement meds as their bodies don't just auto pilot up the amount of thyroid hormones their body produces to balance out any possible effects of the calcium.
I'd expect those who may be borderline hypo would also notice the effects of calcium, but otherwise(without the calcium supps) be fine.
Calcium carbonate is actually used by some people (me included) to help counteract excess thyroid hormone levels at times.
(gardengirl..remember my comment on your calcium intake being lucky when you went a bit too high in T3..this is why)Not sure if this is what is going on with you..but it is one explanation that fits.
Best, JanPS.
Instead of calcium ascorbate you could try this one ..
buy ascorbic acid powder (pure form) and magnesium carbonate powder( get from a chemist in a jar)..mix a fraction of a teaspoon of ascorbic acid (according to amounts of packet) with a spoon or so of magnesium carbonate in a glass of water ....it fizzes (like Berocca B if you have those over there)..The fizzing is the CO2 bubbling off...you are left with
magnesium ascorbate dissolved in water..so you get the magnesium and the VitC. It's one of the things I do (recipe measurements always were a pinch of this and a handful of that with me<g>)
poster:tealady
thread:387415
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040901/msgs/389773.html