Milk-alkali syndrome is making a comeback
Our drive to be healthy can backfire. Witness the return—after a lengthy period of absence—of milk-alkali syndrome, now also known as calcium-alkali syndrome. In the past the ingestion of too much milk was part of its etiology, whereas now it’s often caused by taking too many calcium carbonate pills to prevent osteoporosis, sometimes combined with antacids and vitamin D supplements which exacerbate the problem.
The modern version of milk-alkali syndrome is now known as calcium-alkali syndrome. This evolution in terminology reflects the current pathogenesis of the disorder, which is related to excess calcium supplementation or calcium containing antacids…
Many of the patients reported consuming less than 2 g of elemental calcium per day in the form of calcium carbonate. With the caveat that self-reported calcium ingestion may not be accurate, the amount described is much lower than the usual minimum 4 g of calcium intake that was previously associated with the milk-alkali syndrome. The lower threshold for calcium intake associated with calcium-alkali syndrome may be due to increased vitamin D intake resulting in enhanced intestinal calcium absorption…
Whereas the traditional milk-alkali syndrome affected younger male patients with peptic ulcer disease, the demographics have changed to post-menopausal women, solid organ transplant recipients, pregnant women, bulimic patients, and those on dialysis. Post-menopausal women and solid organ transplant recipients are encouraged to take calcium supplementation along with vitamin D for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis…
The syndrome is not innocuous. It can cause permanent kidney damage and even death. It originally arose as a consequence of a certain type of ulcer treatment in the early days of the 20th century; now it has returned as overzealous patients medicate themselves with tons of supplements in an effort to keep their bones healthy.
It’s not just the calcium, either, that causes it. It’s calcium and an alkali. Calcium carbonate, the most comment and cheapest form or calcium supplementation, manages to supply both at once. Calcium carbonate is also what Tums are made of, and often quite a bit of it. For example, each of these extra-strength Tums contains 400 mg. calcium. You can see how easy it would be to exceed the limit (especially the way some people pop Tums, and especially if a person was also taking calcium supplements). Pregnant women exhibit symptoms at a lower threshold, too. Note the instructions not to exceed 7 tablets in 24 hours, or 6 tablets in 24 hours for pregnant women. I bet a lot of people have no idea that the consequences of violating that caveat can be so severe.
This post is making my parathyroid quiver…
If you pop Tums for heartburn, there is a great substitute, Turmeric ! The stuff is great , works
very well has no side effect, except possibly staving off Alzheimer’s. You can buy it at Walmart supplement section or you can purchase it at the spice aisle & put it in to capsules yourself. Inexpensive unlike those pricey stomach acid inhibitors.
If one eats a well balanced diet, no one needs dietary supplements. The supplements marketed to the worry warts are a scam.
parker:
Actually, for older women, calcium supplements help avoid bone loss. Nature doesn’t care all that much about older women; their bones are expendable 🙂 .
Especially helpful for those like me who are lactose intolerant. Although it also helps to do weight-bearing exercise (I walk).
As an RN I scoffed at supplements most of my life but now the internet has come along & researching *self help* is incredibly
easy. Pubmed is a totally legitimate US Gov run site that has
thousands of articles supporting or refuting the latest results on all the research being done. Granted the reading is dry & it helps to have an interest in science ! (lol) But usually the articles are condensed to an *abstract* that gets to the crux of it !
We can all recall how just lately *Cholesterol* has been removed from dietary purgatory, so just suggesting a healthy diet is meager advice. Most Americans are woefully deficient in Vit D (a nutrient with myriad functions in the body)
& people don t even know that it is weight dependent that is if you carry extra weight you need daily Vit D that is above the
400 IU in a multivit. Men require more than women too.
B vitamins are important in warding off chances of a stroke
& B vitamins are more poorly absorbed from our diet as we age. Metformin the first line treatment for Type 2 diabetes
interferes with B vitamin absorption, which will increase a condition, diabetic neuropathy ( big pharma sells RX cures
for this condition that cost $$$ you ve seen the adds)
They don t *tell *their customers of course, THAT trying
B Vitamin supplements (which feed the body’s nerves) might be the cheapest & most effective way to take care of diabetic neuropathy with out *Lyrica or Cymbalta*
Neo,
Do what my wife does, make nettle tea.
I think we could get several groups to fight all day about what makes up a healthy diet.
Regardless of the definition, I have to wonder how many people do eat what the majority would consider to be a healthy diet…
No one in my family does – I’m not saying that everyone eats a bad diet, but perhaps not the best.
In addition, there have been studies showing that the nutritional make-up of food has decreased over the last 30-50 years. In my (limited) gardening, I try to buy the older classic lines (seedsavers.com for example). They usually taste better too.
And ‘fresh veggies’ in the store – how many are old, or picked too soon before ripening? Give me frozen or canned in addition to fresh…
And with so many modern illnesses – those that can deplete the stores of certain vitamins, or the meds that can deplete them. I have a SEVERE B-12 deficiency, brought on in part by use of proton pump inhibitors.
And yes, a severe D3 deficiency as well as so many of us.
So while medical science tries to keep up (while changing advice monthly), I’ll keep taking some supplements at reasonable levels.
Watch the D3 deficiency — there is an association with dementia.
Future generations will probably think stuff like this brought the collapse of the American Empire.
Just like some people think it was lead poisoning for Rome.