It seems that I read that mineral levels are difficult to determine via blood tests. I've read several times that the test for magnesium is faulty at best. Don't know for sure. My blood work showed a normal calcium level, but when I changed doctors, she did a hair analysis, which showed a low calcium level. Not only that, but "different days, different ways." It's my understanding that blood results can change by the minute. An orthopedic surgeon who studied natural supplementation for 12 years told me that calcium is over-prescribed, but that magnesium and vitamin d are under-prescribed (whether OTC or prescription). He told me never to take more than 4-600 mg. of calcium per day and to always take a matching amount of magnesium. And he said that vitamin d3 was also necessary. My current doctor also added vitamin k2 and strontium citrate to the mix.

annny that's exactly what my Doc said. It's measuring the supplesments at the time they are in the blood. They sometimes take time to build up in the cells of the body. There is a gadget called an
Extratest that can give you the level of the mineral in your body at the
moment you take the test. I do not have one, have read about them.
I also upped my K2 [7] to try and help clean out my arteries. My Doc goes along that.

@missd12932
It's good hearing from you. Thanks for the information. I have never heard of the "Extratest" and will do some research on it. Also, I thought it was interesting that your doctor upped your vitamin k2 [7] to clean out your arteries. Again, I want to learn more about that benefit of vitamin k2, because many in my family had/have cardio-pulmonary problems (heart attacks, etc.)

nanny I have FH which means I have inherited a bad heart. Nothing I do eat, exercise or statins changes anything. So I thought I would try increasing my K7, my Doc goes along with it.

I will let you know if anything changes.

@missd12932
When I was at my worst from polymyositis, it affected my heart muscle. Plus, I have a heart arrthymia. But vitamin d3 and magnesium citrate seems to help keep my heart in better rhythm. However, I also take low-dose calcium and vitamin k2, along with strontium citrate. Even though these are for my bones, the d3 and mag seem to help my heart. Don't understand why, but glad it does. I hope that you find something to work for you, too.

Do you all think Viactiv is a good supplement? It has D, Calcium and K.

I like Jarrow's on Vitacost. It has all the vitamins in just one pill for bone health. I'd like to see what others are taking now.

Your blood calcium level is controlled by your parathyroid glands. If the level in the blood drops for some reason then the parathyroids will produce more of their hormone (PTH) which will result in some calcium being taken from bone to keep the blood calcium level stable and your organs functioning correctly. Usually your blood calcium will measure in the normal range unless you have a parathyroid problem. I would not use blood calcium level as any kind of guideline as to how much calcium you need to consume and nanny is right that magnesium, k2, and vitamin d are much more relevant in sending calcium into the bones. Most people get more than enough calcium from their diet and calcium is overprescribed. My doctor even wanted me to take calcium supplements despite having an overactive parathyroid and high blood calcium levels-made no sense but a parathyroid problem is pretty rare-I just got "lucky."

My SIL had to have one of his parathyroids removed. He lost about
6 inches in height and now has brittle bones. He had a kidney replacement about 4 years ago.

I hope things work out for you cc

hugs Dee