Calcium Dumping Syndrome
Calcium dumping syndrome is a traditional naturopathic concept and not recognised medically (Plaskett 2008). In naturopathy the condition is linked with arthritis, spondylitis, gallstones, renal stones and arterial atheroma. If you would like kidney related guidance visit www.thekidneydocs.com/. Naturopaths state that as a result of calcium dumping syndrome the symptoms of calcium deficiency can occur in the presence of ample dietary calcium. The result is that calcium is excreted from bone and either excreted or deposited in tissues throughout the body. Dietary calcium deficiency is very rare in the western countries. In India there is far less osteoporosis despite the average calcium consumption being as low as 400mg/ day compared with the UK average which some studies put close to 1200mg/ day. Thus clearly others factors are involved. Naturopathic theories are shown in the table below.
| No | Factors affecting bone | Probable reasons for effect |
| 1 | Excessive milk consumption | Adverse effect on sodium and potassium |
| 2 | Excessive animal protein consumption | Adverse effect on sodium and potassium |
| 3 | Excessive phosphorus diets | Stimulates parathyroid secretion |
| 4 | Excessive parathyroid hormone secretion | Direct stimulus to bone re-absorption |
| 5 | Magnesium deficiency | Slowing of cell respiration and production of ATP: slowing of sodium pump. |
| 6 | Zinc deficiency | Slowing of cell respiration and production of ATP: slowing of sodium pump |
| 7 | Aluminium toxicity | Stimulates parathyroid secretion |
| 8 | Lack of boron | |
| 9 | Lack of vitamin D | Prevents calcium absorption |
| 10 | High alcohol intake | Depression of cell respiration and de-mineralisation effects |
| 11 | Lack of exercise | |
| 12 | Acidification of body fluids from acid forming diet (Dependant on genetics and environmental factors) | Re-dissolves deposited calcium |
| 13 | Chronic heavy metal exposure | Depression of cell respiration |
| 14 | Coffee, tea, cocoa and red wine | Various; stimulant, diuretic, anti-vitamin and sodium pump inhibition |
| 15 | Excessive sodium intake | Adverse effect on sodium/ potassium balance |
| 16 | Vitamin C deficiency | Slows detoxification and exposes the cells to free radical attack |
| 17 | Liver or kidney under-function | Inhibits whole body detoxification |
The result is negative calcium balance, the state when the individual looses more calcium each day than they take in.
References
Plaskett, L. 2008. Calcium. Plaskett Nutritional Medicine College. Folder 2, Section C