Chronic heavy drinking affects calcium levels in several ways. Side effects of alcoholism affect calcium levels.
A damaged liver does not produce the enzyme needed to convert vitamin D into its active form, and vitamin D is necessary for calcium absorption. Many people who drink a lot of alcohol do not absorb good fats, which are also necessary for the absorption of calcium and vitamin D.
Alcoholics often need more calcium than most people because alcohol use also increases bone loss. Production of the hormone testosterone is reduced in alcoholics. For men, androgens, or male hormones, are essential for maintaining bone mass.
When calcium levels decrease, parathyroid levels increase, which can inhibit the production of osteoblasts, the cells that produce bone. Cortisol levels also increase in alcoholics; High cortisol levels reduce new bone formation and increase bone breakdown.
Additionally, the combination of poor nutrition and alcohol's impact on the absorption of calcium and other nutrients can lead to health deficiencies over time.
