Calcium Intake, Hair Growth and Hair Loss

In a recent study into the daily calcium intake of people from 74 different countries, the United Kingdom ranked 7th highest. This is potentially good news in terms of hair loss which can be influenced by calcium levels but the data found that we still might not be getting enough.
Calcium is important for strong, healthy hair as it aids hormone and enzyme secretion, including the androgen hormones and biotin enzymes involved in healthy hair growth. It can also help you to absorb iron, which is vital for strong, healthy hair - especially for women who are of a child-bearing age.
So while the data, which was compiled by the International Osteoporosis Foundation, suggests that the people of the UK are doing far better than those in most other nations, it also shows that the average British person’s calcium intake does not meet some guidelines.

Recommendations vary

UK citizens ingest just under 1,000mg of calcium per day based on data from 1992 to 2004  which is infinitely better than the likes of Nepal where the intake is just 175mg per day  but when some recommendations say that teens need 1,800 mg and that the over-50s are advised to have at least 1,200, then the findings may leave little to shout about.
However, Dr Walter Willett, a nutritionist from Harvard, states that the WHO’s recommendation of 500mg day for adults is actually probably acceptable. The UK's RDA of 700mg is deemed likely to be OK, too.
The big worry is that certain sectors of society have a very low intake of calcium those who choose a vegan or plant-based diet that avoids dairy (a primary source of calcium) are likely to be the worst affected. As the popularity of these types of diet increases, so too does the importance of people ensuring that a good daily supply of calcium is forthcoming, and the best way to do so is through choosing non-dairy items that are calcium rich things like sardines, collard greens, kale and broccoli.
When this is not possible, an alternative is a premium food supplement such as Belgravia's Hair Vitalics which is available in specific Men's and Women's formulations in order for the ingredients to be as highly-targeted as possible. Containing key vitamins, minerals, amino acids and botanical extracts identified by the clinic's experts for their beneficial effects on hair health and hair growth, these are not just simply advantageous to people whose diets are lacking key nutrients.
In addition to the wealth of high quality nutritional elements included within both Hair Vitalics for Men and Hair Vitalics for Women, there are also ingredients specifically included for their ability to reduce serum levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is the hormone which is what causes hair loss from Male Pattern Baldness and, in women, Female Pattern Hair Loss.

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DHT is used by the body up until puberty but after this time it can start to bind to the hair follicles along the top of the scalp and hairline in genetically predisposed men and women. The gradual weakening of these follicles causes an outward display of thinning hair - in men a receding hairline may also present - and is known as hair miniaturisation. Without intervention - at Belgravia this usually takes the form of a tailored hair loss treatment course featuring clinically-proven medications and appropriate hair growth boosters - this can lead to advanced hair thinning in women and baldness in men.

Osteoporosis and tooth decay

As well as hairloss, calcium deficiency can lead to osteoporosis and tooth decay though a previous understanding that a higher intake of calcium would be beneficial to postmenopausal women has recently come into question. Several studies have now found that the notion of increasing calcium intake for postmenopausal women in order to reduce the risk of hip fractures and also preserve their calcium balance does not stack up.
What is interesting is that certain factors can cause calcium absorption to be increased or decreased. Vitamin D is known to aid calcium uptake, whilst consuming large amounts of caffeine, sodium or protein, for example, can cause calcium to be secreted from the body, meaning it may not be absorbing as much as intended.
Silica, a trace mineral micronutrient which appears in both Hair Vitalics formulations due to its hair growth and strengthening properties, helps to maintain the balance of calcium levels in the body.