Dairy sensitivies and calcium

[susanna]

For those of you whose children have a dairy sensitivity, how do you insure that they are getting enough calcium? My son also has a citrus sensitivity so OJ w/ calcium is out. I have found a grape juice with added calcium, and have been giving him a calcium supplement, just not sure if it's enough. I'd love to hear how you deal with this.

[Claire]

Susanna,

 

My son used to drink 4 glasses of milk a day, plus cheese, and he still had a calcium deficiency! We then found out about his sensitivity to milk and completely removed it from his diet. His only source of calcium was through supplements (capsules), though he occasionally had cheese, 2x/week. We retested him 3-4 months later, and the calcium deficiency was gone. So obviously the calcium pills were a better source for him.

 

Claire

[Guest Jean]

Claire and Susanna,

 

My son rarely eats dairy these days. I too also concern his calcium intake. I discussed with our ND about calcium citrus. She doesn't recommend the citrus. She said the reason, but I don't remember it anymore. I can ask her again (I'll meet with her tomorrow). She suggested eating dark green leaf veggies. She said they are rich in calcium (more than milk). I purchased calcium citrus (from allergy group) but I'm not sure if I should give it to my son.

[Guest Guest_efgh]

Jean

 

I give calcium citrate (from the same allergy group) capsules to my son and it really helps his lack of sufficient dairy intake. CAlcium citrate helps my son a lot.

 

HOw are your son's tics now? What are the tics that he has now?

 

goodluck

[Claire]

We have been doing calcium citrate. However, FYI Pfeiffer recommends Calcium Carbonate, and in searching re osteoporosis for my mom, I read this is the most absorbable form (other than the MCHA which I don't want to do because the magnesium is in there and I want the mag taurate).

 

Claire

[susanna]

Claire

 

How did you determien the calcium deficiency, and subsequent non-deficiency? Was it the Spectracell test? How much do you supplement? I realize what is "right" for youre son is probably not "right" for mine, but I'm just trying to gauge a range. Also, what brand of Calcium do you use?

[Claire]

I use Solaray. but am considering switching to the calcium carbonate that Pfeiffer will compound. Solaray has a great number of choices.

 

We did calcium citrate with vitamin D. But he was deficient in vitamin D also. Obviously with calcium you need some magnesium for balance. We do the magnesium taurate.

 

He was 80-85 pounds and we did 750 mg Calcium, then cut back to 500 mg when the deficiency was corrected. The daily calcium requirement for that age is really high, but I don't have the number handy. So it was not megosing at all.

 

 

Yes, Spectracell was the test we used.

 

Claire

[susanna]

Hmm, I'm probably not doing enough. I am currently giving him a calcium supplement from Whole Foods (Country Life Tall Tree brand) that contains 25 I.U. of vit D, 250 mg calcium (as calcium carbonate, calcium citrate....it doesn't say how much of each), and 50 mg of magnesium (as magnesium oxide, magnesium aspertate) 250 mg calcium is 25% of the RDA for children over 4 (per the label) He also gets a small amount from his multivitamin (25mg), and the amount he gets from his juice...per the juice label each 8 oz of juice provides 10% of the calcium RDA. Unfortunately he won't eat the leafy green veggies. I guess I really should get him tested so I know exactly what I'm dealing with...in the meantime I'll probably double his supplement.

 

Once again, thanks for sharing.

[Guest Lulu]

I'm thinking that the RDA for kids regarding calcium is 1200 mg......Mine's not getting that much either. I'm trying to do the 2:1 ratio of calcium to magnesium (taurate) but I think I read that they should only get 400 mg of mag so that mean only 800 mg of calcium. Or maybe he's getting too much compared to what you all are giving....

 

Lulu

[Claire]

Lulu,

 

You are so right about those ratios... they are very important. Guess what, Pfeiffer recommended 500 mg calcium and 500 mg magnesium, or a 1 to 1 ratio! We do a minimum of 2 to 1 cal/mag and sometimes slightly more magnesium than this.

 

Too much magnesium causes diarhea. I have heard some say give as much as they would tolerate without diarhea, and split the dose of magnesium.

 

Claire

[Guest Jean]

I would like to make the correction of my previous posting. I meant “calcium citrate†but I wrote as “calcium citrusâ€. Sorry for the incorrect information.

I met my ND today and asked her about “calcium citrate†again. She basically said that the “citrate†would enhance the absorption of aluminum.

 

Efgh,

 

My son is doing fine. Thanks for asking. How are you (and your son)? My son doesn’t show much tics these days. He still has eye rolling that (maybe only) we can notice. He is also not ready for TV yet. In comparing with the same time of last year, he’s much improved. We’re so blessed. We are continuing praying for his health well being and working on his health issues. The other day I read your post regarding your son’s improvement. I’m very happy for you. Does he watch TV ? How is his allergy and asthma?

 

Take care,

 

Jean