Coral calcium is an appreciated dietary supplement, but using dietary supplements are always connected to risks. Using too much dietary supplement, combining several types of dietary supplements or combining dietary supplements with other drugs - prescription drugs as well as over the counter medicine - can produce severe side effects. This article will highlight some of the risks of coral calcium use and explain why excessive use of coral calcium supplements can produce adverse effects.
It is important to remember that coral calcium differs from pure calcium supplements. Coral calcium contains a wide range of other minerals in addition to the calcium. One of the most popular coral calcium supplements, Okinawa coral calcium grains, will for instance contain no more than approximately 25 percent calcium. The rest of the coral grain consists of other compounds and up to 70 different compounds have been found in Okinawa coral grains. If you combine coral calcium with other dietary supplements that contains the same compounds, you can therefore risk an overdose.
Calcium Magnesium
Some of the most important minerals to consider are iron, zinc, manganese, magnesium, potassium and selenium. Combining coral calcium with dietary supplements containing these minerals can manganese be dangerous. If your diet contains high amounts of one or more of these minerals, you should also be careful. It is always recommended to consult a licensed health professional and discuss your use of dietary supplement. This is especially important if you are using other dietary supplements, prescription drugs, over the counter medicines and/or traditional remedies. Another important thing to keep in mind is that many manufacturers of coral calcium supplement add large amounts of vitamin D to their product. Vitamin D is necessary for calcium absorption and if you suffer from a lack of vitamin D your body will not be able to benefit from the calcium supplement.
One of the minerals mentioned above is zinc. The amount of zinc in coral calcium varies and carefully reading the label is therefore advisable. If you consume too much zinc, you can harm your immune system. Even comparatively small doses of zinc, around 100 milligrams a day, can hamper your immune system over a longer period of time. Doses exceeding 300 milligrams can harm the immune system even during short time use and have also been linked to lowered levels of "good cholesterol" (HDL cholesterol) and anaemia.
High doses of magnesium should also be avoided. Coral calcium from Okinawa commonly contains 12 percent magnesium and should therefore not be combined with magnesium supplements unless prescribed by a licensed health professional. If you consume too much magnesium, you can develop digestive problems, especially diarrhoea.
The manganese found in coral calcium can also cause an overdose if combined with manganese dietary supplements or a diet extremely rich in manganese. If a woman consumes too much manganese, she might develop PMS problems and her menstrual cycle can become shortened. A manganese overdose can also produce nausea, muscle tremors, dizziness, migraine headaches and insomnia in women as well as in men.