Ray Peat on calcium

The role of parathyroid hormone and its effects in old age

"Phosphate, which is prevalent in grains, beans, nuts, meat, and fish, increases our production of parathyroid hormone, while calcium and magnesium inhibit its production. This hormone, which increases with age, suppresses the immune system, and in excess it causes insomnia, seizures, dementia, psychoses, cancer, heart disease, shortness of breath and pulmonary hypertension, osteoporosis, sarcopenia, histamine release, inflammation and soft tissue calcification, as well as many other problems."

September 2017 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Effects of an increase in parathyroid hormone on body tissues

"When vitamin D or calcium is deficient, or when phosphate is present in excess, as well as in cases of hypoglycemia and stress (Ljunghall et al., 1984), parathyroid hormone levels rise. This can lead to softening of the bones and hardening of soft tissues, especially the arteries, and sometimes also the brain, skin, and other organs. Parathyroid hormone increases blood pressure even before any calcium-induced stiffening is detectable."

September 2017 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Nighttime parathyroid hormone activity and calcium loss

"During the night, parathyroid hormone levels normally rise (Radjaipour 1986; Logue 1989, 1990; Fraser 1998), and particularly in old age, this leads to significant calcium loss from the bones. Taking a large portion of the daily calcium intake before bedtime reduces the nocturnal rise in PTH as well as calcium loss from the bones."

September 2017 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Effects of calcium and vitamin D on metabolism

"A moderate increase in calcium and vitamin D reduces obesity and increases the metabolic rate, and a great deal is known about the mechanisms involved."

September 2017 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Lowering of parathyroid hormone in connection with obesity and related problems

"The reduction of parathyroid hormone through increased calcium and vitamin D is closely related to a reduction in obesity as well as to the health problems associated with obesity – high blood pressure, insulin resistance, cardiac arrhythmias, depression and various inflammatory conditions."

September 2017 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Nutritional requirements for stress resistance and recovery

"Stress appears to increase a person's need for all nutrients, including calories and protein. The vitamins most commonly used to combat stress are A, C, E, and pantothenic acid. The minerals magnesium, calcium, potassium, and zinc can help in the early stages of stress, and sodium supplements may be necessary in the final, extreme stage of stress when the adrenal glands are exhausted."

Nutrition for Women

Nutritional and dietary recommendations for coping with stress-related mineral imbalances

"Adrenal hormones and mineral balance are disrupted during stress, regardless of whether the cause is a disorganized lifestyle or an injury from surgery. The diet should include approximately 90 grams of protein (in frequent meals), eggs as a source of sulfur (important for the synthesis of joint lubricants, for example), and a high magnesium-to-calcium ratio (as found in vegetables, bran, and fruit), while phosphate intake should be kept low (this could involve using leafy greens instead of some meat, as well as incorporating cheese into the diet). Vitamins C, E, and pantothenic acid are needed in particularly high amounts during stress. Vitamins A and B2 are also essential for the production of anti-stress hormones. Inositol is known to protect biological materials from many types of damage and could have this effect in arthritis, but I am unaware of any research on this specific application."

Nutrition for Women

The discussion about the effectiveness of estrogen in the treatment of osteoporosis

"The argument for using estrogen to cure or prevent osteoporosis is based on the fact that estrogen reduces calcium excretion in urine. Vitamin E deficiency (and estrogen is known to increase the need for vitamin E) leads to calcium being retained in the muscles. In fact, any toxin leads to calcium retention in soft tissues—for example, the heart absorbs calcium when it is under-oxygenated. Since no improvement in the skeleton can be demonstrated by X-rays, I suspect that the improved calcium retention is simply a toxic effect of estrogen."

Nutrition for Women

The role of magnesium in preventing blood clots and for vascular health

"Magnesium counteracts calcium (and estrogen) in the coagulation system, can prevent vascular spasms and save oxygen."

Nutrition for Women

The importance of nutrients for mitochondrial function and aging

"In old age, the walls of blood vessels tend to harden due to calcium. In at least some tissues, calcification is known to begin in degenerating mitochondria, and mitochondria tend to degenerate in aging tissue. Nutrients such as iodine, vitamin E, magnesium, and vitamin B2 are particularly important for maintaining the function of the mitochondria, which produce most of our energy."

Nutrition for Women

Tooth sensitivity as an indication of nutrient deficiencies

"Teeth that are sensitive to heat or cold indicate a deficiency in calcium, magnesium, or vitamin D."

Nutrition for Women

Heavy metal accumulation and aging in human tissue

"As we age, we accumulate more and more heavy metals in our tissues. Lead replaces calcium and reaches concentrations in the bones that are many times higher than in the soft tissues."

Nutrition for Women

American dietary habits lead to bone and tooth damage.

"Almost all Americans have porous, weakened bones and teeth by the age of 50, due to the large amount of meat consumed relative to other foods. When excess phosphate (for example, from meat or wheat germ) is eaten, calcium and magnesium are leached from the teeth and bones to be excreted along with the phosphate."

Nutrition for Women

Milk improves the calcium-phosphorus ratio, but provides too little magnesium.

"Consuming large amounts of milk improves the calcium to phosphorus ratio, but does not provide enough magnesium to prevent tooth decay, heart problems, and cramps."

Nutrition for Women

ATP stability and the role of magnesium

"ATP is more stable than many chemists assume — only a deficiency of magnesium or an excess of calcium destabilizes its molecular structure. This seems to be involved in the calming and antispasmodic effects of magnesium."

Nutrition for Women

Nutrition-induced thermogenesis and endogenous energy regulation

"Nutritional thermogenic factors include sodium, calcium, vitamin D, carbohydrates – especially sugars – and protein, which interact with our endogenous energy regulation factors, especially thyroid hormone and progesterone."

November 2020 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Treatment of new diseases with drugs for high-altitude pulmonary edema

"He suggested using calcium channel blockers and acetazolamide to treat the new disease, because of their therapeutic effect in high-altitude pulmonary edema. He didn't mention it, but both drugs can correct tissue carbon dioxide deficiency."

May 2020 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Treatment of high-altitude pulmonary hypertension with calcium channel blockers

"Calcium channel blockers that mimic the effect of CO₂ are effective treatments for high-altitude pulmonary hypertension."

May 2020 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Treatments for altitude sickness and CO₂ retention

“Like acetazolamide, the other recognized treatment for altitude sickness, calcium channel blockers inhibit carbonic anhydrase and make it easier for the body to store CO₂.”

May 2020 – Ray Peats Newsletter

The role of lactate in the regulation of cellular excitation

"The presence of lactate corresponds to a certain degree of reduction excess in the cells, and the degree of this reduction regulates the calcium channels and controls the excitatory effects of intracellular calcium."

May 2020 – Ray Peats Newsletter

The role of progesterone as a calcium channel blocker

"Progesterone and its neuroactive metabolites, including tetrahydroprogesterone and allopregnanolone, are highly effective calcium channel blockers (Todorovic et al., 2004; Pathirathna et al., 2005; Hu et al., 2007). A major function of progesterone is the inactivation of the estrogen receptor; estrogen and its receptor are strong activators of cellular calcium uptake."

May 2020 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Progesterone and vitamin D in the recovery of nerve function

"Studies on the effects of progesterone on the restoration of nerve function after traumatic brain injury have shown that vitamin D enhances its effectiveness. By improving calcium homeostasis and counteracting parathyroid hormone, which activates calcium channels, vitamin D (25-hydroxycholecalciferol) is increasingly being considered both as a neurosteroid (Groves et al., 2014; Gezen-Ak and Dursun, 2019) and as an essential factor for immunity."

May 2020 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Anti-inflammatory treatments in response to the new coronavirus

"In response to the new coronavirus, some groups reacted very quickly and successfully treated patients with anti-inflammatory substances – losartan, cinanserin (a serotonin antagonist), aspirin, as well as azithromycin or erythromycin, which lower intracellular calcium levels. The effects of aspirin overlap with those of losartan, and it downregulates the angiotensin receptor ATR1."

May 2020 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Pregnancy, energy and nutritional adequacy

"The importance of salt and calcium during pregnancy is related to their effects on the respiratory energy system, and the fact that these effects are poorly understood has led most doctors to believe that a diet providing all necessary nutrients is sufficient for pregnancy and lactation. Despite the presence of all required nutrients—which would be sufficient for someone with an overall supportive environment—a good diet is not necessarily sufficient for someone with a problematic environment or a history of stressful experiences."

May 2019 – Ray Peats Newsletter

The influence of diet on hormone secretion

"Increasing the amount of sodium and calcium (and vitamin D, which also helps to lower parathyroid hormone and aldosterone) in the diet can reduce the secretion of aldosterone and parathyroid hormone, leading to increased oxidative energy production."

May 2019 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Nighttime bodily processes: Protein breakdown

"During the night, even under the calming effects of sleep, the breakdown of protein occurs much faster than its synthesis, and calcium is lost from the bones."

March 2018 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

Snacks as a means to support restful sleep and brain health

"Using snacks to minimize the nighttime rise in free fatty acids and hypoglycemia is an effective way to support restful sleep and slow the brain-aging effects of the accumulation of unstable fatty acids. Calcium and vitamin D, in sufficient amounts to keep parathyroid hormone levels low, contribute to this process."

March 2018 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

Salty snacks and improved sleep quality

"Salty snacks are particularly helpful in inducing sleep, presumably by stabilizing blood sugar and lowering adrenaline. Ice cream, which combines sugar, calcium and some fat – thus slowing down the absorption of sugar – is often effective in improving sleep quality."

March 2018 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

Enzymatic control of serotonin synthesis in the brain

"The synthesis of serotonin in the brain depends on the activity of the enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), and this enzyme is activated by cell excitation, with increased intracellular calcium and reduced glutathione (GSH), and inactivated by the oxidation of glutathione."

July 2019 – Ray Peat's newsletter

Mitigation of the harmful effects of excess serotonin

“Avoiding prolonged fasting and stressful physical activity, which increase free fatty acids; combining sugars with proteins to keep free fatty acids low; using aspirin, niacinamide, or cyproheptadine to reduce the formation of free fatty acids due to unavoidable stress; avoiding an excess of phosphate relative to calcium in the diet; consuming milk and other anti-stress foods before bed or during the night; and staying in a brightly lit environment during the day with regular sunlight exposure can minimize the harmful effects of excess serotonin and reduce the associated inflammation, fibrosis, and atrophy.”

March 2019 - Ray Peat's Newsletter

Progesterone stabilizes cells and improves metabolic functions

"In addition to directly stabilizing the cell's internal structures, progesterone increases ATP concentration and oxygen consumption, reduces excitatory systems and numerous inflammatory processes, lowers intracellular calcium concentration and increases glucose utilization, leading to increased carbon dioxide production, as well as adjustments in respiration and pH."

January 2018 - Ray Peat's Newsletter

The many benefits of cyproheptadine for sleep and cancer

"Cyproheptadine, 2 to 4 mg before bedtime, would help with both sleep and cancer. It also has a calcium-blocking effect, acts as an aldosterone antagonist, and antagonizes the antidiuretic effect of serotonin."

Email Response by Ray Peat

Calcium and iron deposition in mitochondria and diseases

"Calcium and iron tend to be deposited together, and the mitochondria are usually the starting points for this deposition. Iron overload is associated with heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and many other degenerative diseases, including brain disorders."

February 2001

Carbon dioxide and lactate dynamics in cellular processes

"While the flow of carbon dioxide from the mitochondrion into the cytoplasm and beyond tends to remove calcium from the mitochondrion and the cell, the flow of lactate and other organic ions into the mitochondrion can lead to calcium accumulation in the mitochondrion under conditions in which carbon dioxide synthesis and consequently urea synthesis are reduced and other synthetic processes are altered."

July 2000

Glucose, glycolysis and energy production in cells

“Glucose and apparently also glycolysis are required for the production of nitric oxide, as well as for the accumulation of calcium, at least in some cell types, and these coordinated changes that reduce energy production could be brought about by a reduction in carbon dioxide, by a physical change even more fundamental than the energy level represented by ATP. The use of Krebs cycle substances in the synthesis of amino acids and other products would reduce CO₂ formation and create a situation in which the system would have two possible states: on the one hand, the glycolytic stress state, and on the other hand, the carbon dioxide-producing, energy-efficient state.”

July 2000

The role of carbon dioxide in cellular respiration and ion balance

"Both spontaneously and enzymatically, carbon dioxide combines with water. Formed inside the respiring cell, it constantly leaves the cell as carbonic acid, bicarbonates, and carbonates. As it flows out of the cell, any positively charged group, such as a calcium ion, that it carries with it will enter the extracellular fluids along with the carbonate or bicarbonate ion, roughly as a pair with equal positive and negative charges. However, the removal of the alkaline metal ion will tend to restore the acidic character of the proteins."

January 2000 - Ray Peat's Newsletter

The role of carbon dioxide in cellular ion regulation

"The adsorptive effects of carbon dioxide, as well as a wide variety of other chemical effects, modulate the structure and function of the cell so that it retains significantly more potassium than sodium and is able to excrete calcium while binding magnesium."

January 2000 - Ray Peat's Newsletter

Studies on parathyroid hormone and the interchangeability of minerals

"About 88 years ago, W.K. Koch (who is known for his cancer therapy) investigated parathyroid hormone and its connection with tetany (sustained muscle contraction) and seizures and was able to show that the key minerals sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium are interchangeable to some extent in alleviating tetany and seizures caused by the removal of the parathyroid gland, with magnesium being the most effective."

December 1999 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

Cellular response to different types of poisoning

"Virtually any type of poisoning causes cells to absorb calcium from the blood."

December 1999 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

Treatment of hypocalcemic tetany with calcium and magnesium

"The theory of hypocalcemic tetany led to the practice of treating tetany with intravenous calcium solutions; for example, veterinarians often treat grass tetany in cows with large intravenous doses of calcium. The treatment is effective, but tetany is now attributed to a magnesium deficiency (since magnesium supplementation is more effective, as Koch discovered), and excess ammonia produced in the cow's rumen can contribute to magnesium deficiency."

December 1999 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

The activating role of calcium in cellular cytoplasm

"Wherever calcium is studied, it acts as an activator, as a catalyst, as a driving force for activity as soon as it enters the cytoplasm."

December 1999 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

The role of iron and calcium accumulation in aging and stress

"Iron and calcium both tend to accumulate with age or under stress, and both promote excitatory damage; bicarbonate helps to keep iron in its inactive state and probably has a similar effect against a broad spectrum of excitatory substances."

December 1999 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

Koch's findings on coagulation and carbon dioxide

"WF Koch also noted that excessive coagulation occurred in the toxic antirespiratory state. Carbon dioxide is, probably by controlling calcium availability, an important protection against abnormal blood coagulation."

December 1999 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

Neuroprotection against excitotoxicity and excess intracellular calcium

"The neuroprotective steroids progesterone and pregnenolone, as well as magnesium and carbon dioxide, all protect against excitotoxicity and the associated excess of intracellular calcium, while simultaneously promoting normal calcification."

December 1999 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

ATPases: more than just pumps in muscle contraction and cell function

"However, the pump proteins – calcium ATPase, sodium/potassium ATPase, etc. – are proteins that actually exist, even if their functions are far more interesting than simply pumping. An important connection for understanding these ATPases is that the muscle's contractile protein (myosin) is a calcium-dependent ATPase."

1998 - Ray Peat's Newsletter 4

The energizing role of sodium in cellular functions

"Sodium actually has an energizing effect. It helps to remove calcium from the cell, produce ATP, and promote the uptake of glucose and amino acids."

1998 - Ray Peat's Newsletter 4

The role of carbon dioxide in regulation and energy production

"Carbon dioxide plays a key role in regulating both sodium and calcium, as well as respiration and energy production. It tends to relax both nerves and muscles. Apparently, it is one of the essential factors in preventing edema."

1998 - Ray Peat's Newsletter 4

The role of sodium in cellular water and ion management

"Sodium binds water to itself, and this property leads to its exclusion from the normal cell. Carbon dioxide, when it is in water, combines with water, particularly with the help of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase. Since it is produced in the mitochondria, this means that it transports water (as well as calcium and sodium) into the cytoplasm and out of the cell."

1998 - Ray Peat's Newsletter 4

Cellular excitation and injury: Effects on electric fields

"Cellular excitation, exhaustion, and injury affect the cell's electrical fields in different ways, depending on the availability of oxygen, glucose, salts, etc., but in each of these states, there is an increased influx of calcium into the cytoplasm."

1998 - Ray Peat's Newsletter 2

The protective effects of CO₂ on calcium and water binding

"Carbon dioxide has many other effects that work in the same protective direction, such as the removal of calcium, iron binding and water binding, and these other effects are at least as important as the pH effect."

1998 - Ray Peat's Newsletter 2

The similarity of estrogen to aging processes in cellular calcium uptake

"Oxygen deficiency causes tissues to retain calcium (and iron), much like estrogen does in many cases, as it mimics aging by promoting cellular calcium uptake. Since porphyrins strongly bind metals, it has been suggested that they may play a role in mediating the deposition of metals in stressed tissues."

1997 - Ray Peat's Newsletter

Treatment of scleroderma with thyroid, magnesium and progesterone

“Men diagnosed with scleroderma have reported to me that their symptoms have improved with the use of thyroid and magnesium supplements, Epsom salt baths, and topical progesterone and vitamin E. I suspect that the carbon dioxide produced in the mitochondria is the main factor in the removal of calcium from them.”

1997 - Ray Peat's Newsletter

Thyroid gland and magnesium in the normalization of mitochondria

"The thyroid gland and magnesium are often the factors needed to normalize mitochondria and prevent calcification. Generally, depleted cells absorb calcium and lose magnesium."

1997 - Ray Peat's Newsletter

Calcium and iron deposition in damaged tissues: a mystery

"Early in the century, it was observed that calcium and iron tend to be deposited together in damaged tissues, but the exact reason for this association is still unknown. I think the role of iron in the age pigment lipofuscin is an important part of the mechanism."

June 1994 - Ray Peat's Newsletter

Estrogen and toxins as triggers of calcium retention in tissues

"Estrogen and a variety of toxins cause even soft tissues to retain calcium. It is clear that scleroderma, a hardening of the skin, involves the interaction of calcium, iron, lipid peroxidation, and hormones."

June 1994 - Ray Peat's Newsletter

Adrenaline, energy production and impaired recovery

"Glucose deficiency leads to the release of adrenaline, which causes a mobilization of fat as well as a calcium-activated overstimulation of the cells, with impairment of the energy production necessary for recovery (among other things through muscle relaxation and calcium excretion, etc.)."

June 1992 - Ray Peat's Newsletter

The role of calcium in cell damage and energy depletion

"Calcium is a universal activator, but excess calcium is the central link in most forms of cell damage. Calcium uptake and retention are promoted by adrenaline, histamine, vasopressin, energy depletion and lipid peroxidation, as well as by phospholipase activity; since calcium can activate phospholipases and lipid peroxidation and impair energy production, vicious cycles can develop."

June 1992 - Ray Peat's Newsletter

Adrenaline and the role of calcium in heart disease and coagulation

"Excess adrenaline and calcium also promote coagulation, and when beta-adrenergic receptors become desensitized, spasms occur in the coronary arteries. Altered vascular tone, which can result from severe stress, can lead to venous blood pooling, which, together with impaired relaxation of the heart, can cause cardiogenic shock."

June 1992 - Ray Peat's Newsletter

Systems that counteract the toxic effects of adrenaline

"There are several systems that counteract the toxic effects of adrenaline. GABA, dopamine, and adenosine have diverse anti-adrenergic effects. In many situations, the parasympathetic nervous system acts protectively against adrenaline. Protective steroids also operate on many levels. Magnesium, which is largely retained in the cell under the influence of ATP and the thyroid gland, is our fundamental calcium blocker or calcium antagonist. GABA and dopamine inhibit the ACTH-glucocorticoid system and shift the steroid balance toward the protective anti-glucocorticoids progesterone, testosterone, pregnenolone, and DHEA."

June 1992 - Ray Peat's Newsletter

Dietary supplements in the treatment of degenerative diseases

"In degenerative diseases, the accumulation of iron and other mitochondrially toxic substances (e.g., calcium, aluminum, and products of lipid peroxidation, including age pigment) caused by stress and age, as well as the failure of detoxification systems, renders therapy with ordinary dietary supplements relatively ineffective. Direct supplementation of the various natural protective substances (or their analogues) in addition to protective vitamins (especially vitamin E) and minerals (especially magnesium) is therefore more appropriate."

August-September 1992 - Ray Peat's Newsletter

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Supplements according to Ray Peat

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