Calcium deficiency in children: causes, effects, and opportunities for preventive interventions

Calcium deficiency is a commonly occurring condition in children of different age groups, primarily due to the inadequate calcium intake with food, high requirements for Ca to support rapid growth and bone accretion, and various genetic, congenital or acquired disorders of the body systems and organs, accompanied by the impaired mineral metabolism and the development of secondary calcipenia. The article summarizes data on the biological role and functions of calcium in children's body, elucidates the physiology of calcium metabolism, and highlights the major exogenous and endogenous causes of calcipenia development and the clinical symptoms of Ca deficiency at the early stages. In view of a high prevalence of the calcium deficiency worldwide, the authors review potential outcomes of this condition, depending on the children's age. The article discusses the opportunities for preventive measures with an emphasis on primary specific and nonspecific prevention of calcium deficiency to be achieved by making changes in diet and lifestyle and using vitamin and mineral complexes (VMC) and dietary supplements. Thus, it would be possible to meet the physiological needs for calcium in children and to manage the cases of developed calcium deficiency. KEYWORDS: children, calcium, vitamin D, calcium deficiency, calcipenia, bone tissue, prevention. FOR CITATION: Samorodnova E.A. Calcium deficiency in children: causes, effects, and opportunities for preventive interventions. Russian Journal of Woman and Child Health. 2023;6(1):60–67 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2618-8430-2023-6-1-60-67.