Patient's question:
My daughter was checked by the hospital and found to have X-shaped legs and calcium deficiency. Does she need to supplement calcium? Does anyone know the reason? Please help me answer.Doctor's answer:
Although calcium is very important for an infant's growth, it is not always better to have more. Too much of anything can have extreme negative effects. Calcium can also harm children, such as increasing the burden on the kidneys and the risk of kidney stones involving iron, zinc, and other minerals. Calcium supplements can lead to iron and zinc deficiencies in infants, as iron and zinc are also very important minerals, but they are more likely to be nutritionally deficient compared to calcium. Additionally, taking calcium supplements does not necessarily lead to excessive absorption. If it is not absorbed, it will inevitably be excreted through the large intestine as feces. In the large intestine, it can combine with fat to form calcium fatty acid, which cannot be absorbed, leading to dry, hard stools and constipation.