Serum Calcium Level In Geriatric Men, Comparative Studies

Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendation

Discussion:

The estimation of serum calcium level is quite an interesting activity especially with the people of different ages. On the attempt of carring out this test, some factors may lead to variation in result obtained. It may be due to laboratory differences in temperature, or even may depend on individual who may have lower calcium level (hypocalcaemia). Or elevated calcium level (hypercalcaemia). One may derive a corrected calcium level when the albumin is abnormal. This makes up the change in total calcium due to the change in albumin calcium, and it gives an estimate of what the calcium level would be if the albumin were within the normal ranges.
Corrected calcium level (mg/dl) = measured total calcium level (mg/dl) + 0.8 (4.0-serum albumin [g/dl], where 4.0 represents the average albumin level in g/l).

From the analysis and research carried out, it can be estimated that about 25mmol of calcium enters the body in a normal diet. It can be less than that if the diet is low in dairy products, or other calcium containing foods such as some kind of fish or calcium rich water, (Ballon, 2003). The calcium of leafy green vegetable is poorly absorbed, in all these, about 40% (10mmol) is absorbed in gut, and (5mol) leaves the body.

Calcium can also interact with other chemical and this interaction may occur in two ways, potential positive interaction and negative interaction.

Conclusion:

In all that have noted about serum calcium, those who lack vitamins especially vitamin D might also have a fall in serum calcium level. Vitamin D is an important co-factor in the intestinal absorption of calcium, as it increases the number of calcium binding proteins, (Dudin, et al, 1995).

From the analysis I carried out on the people who are advanced in age (50 and above) in Enugu State, they presented a slightly fall in their serum calcium level than those who are younger and within the age bracket of 20 to 30 years as represented on the table and graph above.

Finally, if the vitamin D level is not maintained, it can be concluded that serum calcium drops down as the age’s increases.

Recommendation

I hereby recommend that future research on this topic should concentrate more on the old people (50 years and above) because of the difficulty in convincing them to participate in the project.