If you need to know which are the calcium reference ranges or you require more information about the role of calcium in the blood, you can visit normal calcium level in the blood
Calcium in the blood can be free, what is called ionized calcium, or can be bound to other substances (albumin, phosphorus, etc…). Only 40% of blood calcium is free or ionized.
In this document, we speak about total blood calcium. Sometimes, a blood test only measures free or ionized calcium, so the results are more or less 40% of the ranges showed above.
This document speaks about total blood calcium. If your blood test measures only free or ionized calcium, the ranges showed above will be different.
Blood albumin levels bound to calcium can alter the total blood calcium level. However, albumin level does not alter ionized calcium. Calcium biological functions depend mainly on ionized calcium rather than on total calcium.
Hypocalcemia or low blood calcium levels is usually present in case of suffering from hypoparathyroidism, malabsorption, pancreatitis or vitamin D deficiency.
Calcium blood values are usually given in mg/dl but sometimes you can see those values in mmol/l following the International System of Units (SI). In case your values are in mmol/l you can convert them using this tool:
Calcium blood level is a bit low but it is not usually a cause for concern.
You must watch your diet. You should increase your calcium and D vitamin intake. For this purpose, it is adequate to take dairy products.
If you follow this recommendation your calcium level will be optimal in your following test.
Moderate Hypocalcemia requires follow up.
Patients often complain of cramping, numbness or tingling in their fingertips, and paresthesia of the extremities.
It is recommended a visit to your doctor because moderate hypocalcemia can be caused by an underlying disease.
Marked hypocalcemia is a matter of concern. Seizures can be induced by hypocalcemia.
You may require hospitalization because calcium should be administered intravenously in order to increase calcium blood level.
You need to look for urgent medical attention. It is common in severe hypocalcemia to have seizures or tetany. Tetany is a serious complication characterized by involuntary contraction of muscles.
You can also suffer from arrhythmias and a heart attack is a possibility.
The following diseases can explain a calcium blood level lower than normal:
If your calcium blood level is low, the following tips can help you:
You can visit our pages about:
The following values are considered to be below the normal range:
IMPORTANT: These levels are expressed in mg/dl. They are an example of a healthy man of about 45 years old with no known disease and not taking any medication. The ranges can be different depending on the laboratory or on your personal circumstances.
Calcium | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mild hypocalcemia | |||||||
| 8.4 mg/dL | 8.3 mg/dL | 8.2 mg/dL | 8.1 mg/dL | 8 mg/dL | |||
| Moderate hypocalcemia | |||||||
| 7.9 mg/dL | 7.8 mg/dL | 7.7 mg/dL | 7.6 mg/dL | 7.5 mg/dL | 7.4 mg/dL | 7.3 mg/dL | 7.2 mg/dL |
| 7.1 mg/dL | 7 mg/dL | ||||||
| Marked hypocalcemia | |||||||
| 6.9 mg/dL | 6.8 mg/dL | 6.7 mg/dL | 6.6 mg/dL | 6.5 mg/dL | 6.4 mg/dL | ||
| Severe hypocalcemia | |||||||
| 6.3 mg/dL | 6.2 mg/dL | 6.1 mg/dL | 6 mg/dL | 5.9 mg/dL | 5.8 mg/dL | 5.7 mg/dL | 5.6 mg/dL |
| 5.5 mg/dL | 5.4 mg/dL | 5.3 mg/dL | 5.2 mg/dL | 5.1 mg/dL | 5 mg/dL | 4.9 mg/dL | 4.8 mg/dL |
| 4.7 mg/dL | 4.6 mg/dL | 4.5 mg/dL | 4.4 mg/dL | 4.3 mg/dL | 4.2 mg/dL | 4.1 mg/dL | 4 mg/dL |
| 3.9 mg/dL | 3.8 mg/dL | 3.7 mg/dL | 3.6 mg/dL | 3.5 mg/dL | 3.4 mg/dL | 3.3 mg/dL | 3.2 mg/dL |
| 3.1 mg/dL | 3 mg/dL | 2.9 mg/dL | 2.8 mg/dL | 2.7 mg/dL | 2.6 mg/dL | 2.5 mg/dL | 2.4 mg/dL |
| 2.3 mg/dL | 2.2 mg/dL | 2.1 mg/dL | 2 mg/dL | 1.9 mg/dL | 1.8 mg/dL | 1.7 mg/dL | 1.6 mg/dL |
| 1.5 mg/dL | 1.4 mg/dL | 1.3 mg/dL | 1.2 mg/dL | 1.1 mg/dL | 1 mg/dL | ||
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