Calcium + Vitamin D3 and Boron

Calcium is an essential mineral:

Calcium is the most important mineral in the body (about 1-1.2 kg in adults).

It is the most important mineral in the body, particularly involved in the strength of the bones. The increase in longevity shows the importance of preserving and maintaining one’s bone capital for the long term (prevention of osteoporosis).

The daily calcium requirement is around 1 gram per day. For seniors and pregnant women, the requirement is increased by 10 to 20%.

Calcium in the body :

It is involved in many biochemical reactions (coagulation, muscle contractions, etc.), but it is above all its role in bone strength that is crucial.

As we live longer, we are becoming aware of the fundamental impact of bone capital in maintaining a good quality of life and reducing the incidence of osteoporosis.

This new Argalys Essentiels formula sets a benchmark for quality in this field.

For all (from 8 years old)

• Up to 3 capsules/day depending on other dietary calcium intake (i.e. 90 and 99% of the NRV of Calcium and Vitamin D3 respectively, and an intake of 3 mg of boron).
• One capsule per dose, in the middle of a meal (for better assimilation of calcium) with a glass of water.

• 240 mg of calcium (as calcium carbonate)
• 00017 mg natural Vitamin D3 (cholecalcipherol)
• 1 mg of Boron
• Natural additive: rice bran

The importance of Calcium

Calcium in the body

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body. (1 to 1.2 kg in adults).

We find it mainly in bones and teeth (99%) but it is involved in many biochemical reactions (coagulation, muscle contractions etc.). Calcium is above all known for its role in bone solidity, which is essential.

Calcium deficiency does not exist 100%: food (including drinking water) always provides calcium and the effects of insufficient intakes take a long time to be felt: they are all the more pernicious.

Osteoporosis in particular is a phenomenon which is difficult to reverse, a return to satisfactory levels of intake often only slows down the deterioration. A majority of adults and senior citizens have insufficient intakes. A lack of frequent physical activity is an aggravating factor of calcium deficiency on bone solidity.

Calcium deficiency: invisible but not insignificant.

The WHO recommends an ANC (Recommended Nutrient Intake) of 900mg/day/adult.

This quantity is essential for bone formation, skeletal solidification, and tooth rigidity in children, adults and the elderly.

Having a sufficient quantity of calcium in the body is essential for the development of bones in the former, to solidify them in the latter and finally to slow down their degradation, including osteoporosis in the latter.

Causes of Calcium deficiencies

Hypocalcaemia, a blood sugar level below 85 mg/litre, is caused by insufficient food intake or poor absorption of calcium by the intestine (this varies according to other parameters).

There are many reasons for the lower absorption, but the main ones are the following:

• Instantaneous Calcium intakes that are too

Up to 500 mg of calcium, whatever the form of the ingredient absorption is correct (30/50%), it decreases sharply for additional quantities, it is preferable to split the intake during the day (during meals for calcium carbonate).

• A lack of Vitamin D or food Boron

Vitamin D deficiency is one of the frequent causes of calcium deficiency in the body. Vitamin D is directly involved in the body’s active absorption mechanisms.

It is due to a lack of exposure to the sun and/or insufficient intakes (plant diets in particular): in winter the sub-deficiencies of European populations are frequent for this reason.

Food Boron inputs (mainly vegetable) are difficult to understand because their content depends a lot on the soil in which they have grown, we have added a safety dose allowing in all cases a sufficient level (and not risky) for the best assimilation of Calcium.

• Pathological causes that your doctor will be able to detect, including :

Hypoparathyroidism.

This phenomenon occurs when the parathyroid glands no longer produce enough parathyroid hormones (PTH), which are responsible for regulating the level of phosphorus and calcium in the blood. A drop in the production of these hormones can lead to hypocalcaemia.

Hypoparathyroidism can occur after surgery or in the very rare case of autoimmune diseases.

A few simple rules to estimate your calcium intake :

• Look at the calcium content of your drinking water (for tap water, consult your local distribution company). With the richest waters, a significant part of your daily needs can be covered.
• Consumption of mammalian milk is not an absolute guarantee of sufficient intake (lactose intolerance ).
• Rich’ plants (dried fruit, vegetables) have calcium contents of around 1 to 3%.
• It is necessary to count on an average absorption of around 30% of really useful calcium, so take a safety

The effects of Calcium deficiency

The effects of a Calcium deficiency are generally not very visible and without short-term consequences. Hypocalcaemia is usually diagnosed by means of tests.

However, a prolonged Calcium deficiency can lead to certain disorders such as :

• Osteoporosis: a progressive weakening of the bones

Bone mass increases rapidly during the first phase of life and generally peaks around the age of 20. After the age of 30, bone mass slowly decreases, leading to a deficit of 3 to 5% every 10 years.

In women, from the menopause onwards, this loss of bone mass accelerates, very quickly at first, then more moderately after 3 to 5 years. This acceleration is linked to the disappearance of oestrogens (oestrogens slow down the degradation of bone tissue).

At the age of 80, a man has lost about 25% of his bone mass, a woman 40%.

Also, as bone is the body’s calcium reservoir, in the event of a calcium deficiency, the maintenance of blood calcium levels is at the expense of bone calcium and this exposes the body to the risk of fractures.

• Cramps and involuntary contractions

Aches and cramps are the most common muscular pains in sportsmen and women.

Muscle contraction requires the presence of an adequate amount of calcium. When the body lacks calcium, it increases the excitability of the nerve endings in the muscles that are responsible for muscle contraction. As a result, the risk of an involuntary contraction (a cramp) increases.

But cramps can also be promoted by other metabolic disorders such as a lack of magnesium or potassium.

• Teething and gum problems

Calcium deficiency can lead to a loss of minerals in the teeth and bones and promote the development of cavities.

• Sleep disorders

Calcium also plays a role in the production of melatonin (a sleep hormone that is secreted in greater quantities at night to promote falling asleep). Calcium deficiency can therefore have a negative impact on the production of melatonin.

Calcium deficiency can also lead to more serious problems in the longer term such as heart problems or high blood pressure.

Solutions to secure calcium intake

• Adapting one’s diet: the main solution to limit the risks of There are several solutions:

• Water is an easy means, but the contents are very variable: check on the label or with your local water
• The calcium content of food is well documented (labels, internet), however it should be kept in mind that a maximum of 50% of the intake is
• Frequent physical activity (every day) is also an indispensable means of maintaining the bone system.

To simplify and secure intake: food supplements.

The Argalys Calcium + Vitamin D3 and Boron food supplement: a new formula for greater efficiency.

To facilitate the balance of all diets and ensure regular calcium intake: the Calcium + Vitamin D3 and Boron Argalys Essentials food supplement.

This supplement is a unique combination of Calcium, Vitamin D3 and Boron.

The choice of calcium carbonate

We chose calcium carbonate because at the dose used in our Argalys Essentiels supplement, it is well absorbed (at least as much as calcium citrate: see EFSA 2007 study (see Sources).

Moreover, it is very rich in elemental Calcium: around 40%. Carbonate is the form that provides the most useful calcium per capsule.

Another advantage: the Calcium Carbonate taken during the meal helps to limit gastric hyperacidity by acting as a ‘buffer’ on stomach acidity.

Vitamin D3 to promote the fixation of Calcium

Diet provides only small amounts of vitamin D: it is mainly found in fatty fish (tuna, mackerel, sardines, salmon, etc.) and non-skimmed dairy products. Vegan and mainly plant-based diets are therefore by nature deficient in vitamin D.

Vitamin D is mainly synthesised by the skin under the action of the sun’s rays. Vitamin D deficiency is common in the urban population of Europe, especially in the elderly and in winter, even in omnivores: in these cases, supplementation is recommended.

• Vitamin D3 plays a very important role in the active calcium absorption

Calcium absorption is the result of two distinct mechanisms: active transport, dependent on vitamin D and whose effectiveness decreases with age, and passive, independent diffusion.

For the active mechanism, the amount of vitamin D available (in the form of calcitriol) will determine the amount of calcium absorbed through the intestinal mucosa,

Vitamin D will also play a role in regulating the level of Calcium (calcium) in the body by limiting its elimination by the kidneys and allowing the mobilisation of Bone Calcium.

Consequently, in case of vitamin D deficiency, the quantity of Calcium assimilated and mobilised decreases, until it is only ensured by the passive absorption mechanisms, which are insufficient.

An innovation: Boron

Boron is the least well known element in this formula. Let us tell you a little more about it:

American studies have shown a lower incidence of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis in areas where Boron intakes were higher than 3 mg /day. Boron is involved in bone metabolism in combination with Vitamin D and Calcium (although the mechanism is not well known).

It is therefore an additional precaution added to the formula and in the prevention of disorders linked to Calcium deficiency.

Please note that there is no risk of Boron toxicity below 20 mg/day for adults and 11 mg/day from 9 years old (Reference: Institute of Medicine, Food & Nutrition USA – no European reference on this subject).

With 3 capsules/day the dose of Boron in the Argalys formula is : 3 mg, which is also safe for pregnant women.

Sources :

• The role of Calcium :

https://www.mon-osteoporose.fr/osteoporose-plein- calcium/#:~:text=Les%20carences%20intake%20in,bone%2C%20ost%C3%A9oporosis%2C%20fractur   es).

https://solidarites-sante.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/actions42_pa.pdf http://www.ipubli.inserm.fr/bitstream/handle/10608/5935/MS_2006_12_1095.pdf?sequence= https://www.mmt-fr.org/

• Calcium carbonate : http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/612
• Vitamin D3

https://solidarites-sante.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/actions42_pa.pdf http://www.ipubli.inserm.fr/bitstream/handle/10608/5935/MS_2006_12_1095.pdf?sequence=

• Boron :

The importance of boron for healthy bones and joints ‘ Newnham team Nov 1994 www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov

Health canada: www.hc-sc.gc.ca