Re: which is the horse?

"And yes for sure, without the other minerals calcium does more harm than good anyhow."

People getting too much calcium is most likely not much of a problem... what are vitamin D levels in the U.S. like? A form of vitamin D is necessary for the calcium to be absorbed through the intestinal wall... what is the individuals fat metabolism like? If it is off, vitamin D production and metabolism is compromised...

Then there are issues with an "absorbable form" of calcium. Only if the calcium consumed is in, or transformed in the digestive process to a soluble form of calcium can it be then absorbed. Again, fat metabolism and the right vitamin D must be available to the small intestine. This still leaves us with the necessary and correct, complex metabolism and usage of the calcium that happens to be absorbed.

Getting too much, is probably less likely with calcium than most other nutrients as without the other minerals (or cofactors for that matter) calcium absorption and/or utilization is severely compromised through many different channels... including the parathyroid.

If all IS working and functioning properly, then getting too much calcium is not an issue because, the body's feedback mechanism will shut down the absorption of anything NOT needed and open up the absorption of what IS needed. If the feedback mechanism is not working properly, then yes, if one does happen to get too much calcium, it can do more harm than good, just like with anything else.

But as I stated, calcium being the most abundant mineral in the body, this is unlikely... the problem lies elsewhere.

grz-