Getting enough calcium to keep bones strong throughout a person's life may be hard for people who have lactose intolerance or other reasons for avoiding calcium-rich foods. Calcium deficiency also affects the heart and circulatory system, as well as the secretion of essential hormones. There are many ways to supplement calcium, including a growing number of fortified foods.
Last reviewed 5/21/2012 by Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
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