Calcium News and Research

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Calcium, the most abundant mineral in the body, is found in some foods, added to others, available as a dietary supplement, and present in some medicines (such as antacids). Calcium is required for muscle contraction, blood vessel expansion and contraction, secretion of hormones and enzymes, and transmitting impulses throughout the nervous system. The body strives to maintain constant concentrations of calcium in blood, muscle, and intercellular fluids, though less than <1% of total body calcium is needed to support these functions.

The remaining 99% of the body's calcium supply is stored in the bones and teeth where it supports their structure. Bone itself undergoes continuous remodeling, with constant resorption and deposition of calcium into new bone. The balance between bone resorption and deposition changes with age. Bone formation exceeds resorption in growing children, whereas in early and middle adulthood both processes are relatively equal. In aging adults, particularly among postmenopausal women, bone breakdown exceeds formation, resulting in bone loss that increases the risk of osteoporosis over time.

New synthetic grafting material kills bone cancer and regenerates bone

Primary bone tumors, such as osteosarcoma, have seen stagnant survival rates over the past four decades. Surgical removal of the tumor is critical, but local recurrence may occur when tumours are close to vital structures, often resulting in amputation

3 Jul 2026

Dutch study shows why plant-based eating can miss key nutrients

A Dutch dietary modeling study found that replacing major animal-based protein sources with plant-based substitutes reduced protein, EAA, vitamin, and mineral intake across age groups. Older adults, adolescents, children, and women were especially vulnerable to shortfalls, highlighting the need for planned substitutions, fortified foods, and age-specific dietary guidance.

3 Jul 2026

USC scientists target brain inflammation to prevent Alzheimer's disease

An interdisciplinary team at the USC Center for Personalized Brain Health (CPBH) is targeting a family of enzymes that can increase the risk of inflammation in the brains of people with the APOE4 gene variation-the most significant genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's-as a way to prevent the disease.

2 Jul 2026

Plant-based diets offer heart benefits but may require supplements

A study reveals unsupplemented vegan diets in Northeast China lead to micronutrient deficiencies, despite benefits for body composition and cholesterol levels.

2 Jul 2026

Novel biomimetic peptide actively rebuilds damaged tooth dentin

Dentin hypersensitivity affects millions of people worldwide, yet existing treatments often provide only temporary relief.

1 Jul 2026

Cryo-EM microscopy uncovers structure of bacteria behind gum disease

Periodontal (gum) disease is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, caused by the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). In Japan alone, approximately 80% of adults over 30 years old are affected or considered at risk.

30 Jun 2026

Strong chest and back muscles linked to lower risk of a heart attack

People with strong muscles in their chest and back are less likely to have heart attacks, according to analysis of heart scans using artificial intelligence which was part-funded by the British Heart Foundation and led by the University of Edinburgh.

30 Jun 2026

Children and adults who eat more live microbe-rich foods have healthier diets

French children and adults widely consumed foods likely to contain live microbes, mainly yogurt, unpasteurised cheese, fruits, and vegetables. Higher intake was associated with more nutrient-rich diets and better diet quality scores, but the cross-sectional study cannot prove health benefits.

29 Jun 2026

Scientists identify key osteoblast protein that promotes bone formation

New study identifies CAR3 as a key osteoblast protein promoting collagen mineralization, bone formation, and skeletal regeneration.

26 Jun 2026

Maternal blood test reveals prenatal methylation clues linked to autism risk

Researchers found that maternal plasma cell-free DNA methylation patterns in late pregnancy were associated with later autism diagnosis and maternal obesity in a high-likelihood ASD cohort. The findings suggest cfDNA may offer a minimally invasive way to study prenatal epigenetic changes linked to neurodevelopmental risk, but larger validation studies are needed.

25 Jun 2026

Gene linked to lower BMI points researchers toward a new obesity target

A review in Cardiology in Review highlights GPR75, a receptor for 20-HETE, as a promising therapeutic target for obesity and metabolic syndrome. Evidence from genetic studies, cell experiments, and mouse models suggests that blocking this pathway could influence weight gain, insulin resistance, hypertension, inflammation, and vascular dysfunction.

25 Jun 2026

Electroacupuncture relieves neuropathic pain and anxiety by activating specific brain circuit

Neuropathic pain affects nearly 10% of the global population, and up to 60% of those individuals also struggle with anxiety or other mood disorders.

24 Jun 2026

Advanced chip-based sensor identifies traumatic brain injury markers

Researchers have developed a chip-based metasurface biosensor that can detect traumatic brain injury (TBI) biomarkers at extremely low levels.

23 Jun 2026

Elite athletes with higher vitamin D show healthier lipid profiles

Higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were independently associated with lower LDL-C, triglycerides, and lipoprotein(a) in 773 male professional athletes. The cross-sectional study cannot establish causality, but it suggests that vitamin D status may be linked to cardiovascular risk-related lipid markers, even in elite athletic populations.

23 Jun 2026

New miniature microscope stably images brain cells during movement

Researchers at Peking University have developed DUET, a breakthrough dual-color miniature two-photon microscope that overcomes two persistent barriers in neuroscience imaging: motion-induced signal instability and fluorescence channel crosstalk.

22 Jun 2026

Study discovers epigenetic mechanism protecting tooth progenitor cells from stress

An epigenetic "mechanostat" has been discovered that protects tooth-forming progenitor cells from mechanical stress and supports lifelong tissue renewal.

19 Jun 2026

Lysosomal protein stabilizes mitochondria to prevent severe heart failure

A new study published in Engineering has uncovered a regulatory mechanism linking lysosomal function to mitochondrial stability in pathological cardiac hypertrophy, identifying transient receptor potential mucolipin 1 (TRPML1) as a key protective factor against the progression to heart failure.

16 Jun 2026

New gel coating delivers anti-inflammatory antibodies directly to the esophagus

There are few treatment options available for people with disorders of the esophagus. Delivering drugs directly to this part of the body is difficult, so patients are usually treated with systemic drugs, which can have unwanted side effects.

12 Jun 2026

Trial finds prunes do not outperform calcium and vitamin D for male bone density

A one-year randomized trial found that daily prune supplementation did not improve total or lumbar spine bone mineral density in older men susceptible to, or with, osteopenia. Although some bone turnover biomarkers differed between prune and control groups, these changes did not translate into measurable bone density benefits beyond calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation.

11 Jun 2026