Remote Energy Wellness by: JOSEPH WILLIAM BAKER®

208: The Good, Bad, & Ugly on Calcium! 4 Years of LYL Livestreams!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqwTBCWB3jc

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025

Dr. Garrett Smiith

https://nutritiondetective.com

Notes for today:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-xiTiq2KsaasJTaI6owINRDZsE5EBGBVpgPjai5QPmY

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6844170

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8246751/

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-07533-4

missing 43:00

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4291037/

missed 58:00

Cholestasis shuts down calcium signaling in cholangiocytes – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14752844/

The effect of calcium and vitamin A in patients with metabolic-associated fatty liver diseases

missing 1:06:00

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1987802/

https://bjbas.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s43088-025-00612-2


missed 1:15:30 – 1:16:30 audio glitch…

Decreased magnesium status may mediate the increased cardiovascular risk associated with calcium supplementation – PMC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5708314/

The good, the bad, and the ugly of calcium supplementation: a review of calcium intake on human health – PMC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6276611/

missing 1:23:30

Missing 1:27:00 —

missing 1:45:20

Calcium and vitamin D supplementation and increased risk of serrated polyps: results from a randomized clinical trial – PMC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6286251/

Cardiovascular complications of calcium supplementation in chronic kidney disease: are there arrhythmic risks? – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24999031/


Cross-sectional association between blood cholesterol and calcium levels in genetically diverse strains of mice – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38129969/

Serum Calcium Increase Correlates With Worsening of Lipid Profile: An Observational Study on a Large Cohort From South Italy – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26937904/

Calcium Supplements and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33530332/

Associations of dietary calcium intake and calcium supplementation with myocardial infarction and stroke risk and overall cardiovascular mortality in the Heidelberg cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study (EPIC-He… | Heart: https://heart.bmj.com/content/98/12/920

Calcium Supplementation, Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases, and Mortality: A Real-World Study of the Korean National Health Insurance Service Data – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35745268/

missed 2:21 – 2:23

Milk -Alkali syndromoe

missing 2:29

[A case of the milk-alkali syndrome with a small amount of milk and magnesium oxide ingestion–the contribution of sustained metabolic alkalosis induced by hypertonic dehydration] – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1920938/

Lessons of the month: Over-the-counter antacids causing hypercalcaemia: The emergence of calcium-alkali syndrome – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32675162/

Treatment of osteoporosis with a modified zeolite shows beneficial effects in an osteoporotic rat model and a human clinical trial – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33183068/

ZeoLyte 150g

Variation of calcium, copper and iron levels in serum, bile and stone samples of patients having different types of gallstone: A comparative study – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28625681/

Association of oral calcium intake with osteoarthritis progression and knee replacement: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative – Osteoarthritis and Cartilage: https://www.oarsijournal.com/article/S1063-4584(16)00506-9/fulltext

LYL #208: The Good, Bad, and Ugly On Calcium

My Mea Culpa on Calcium

  • Mea Culpa means an exclamation of apology or remorse that is used to mean “It was my fault” or “I apologize.”
  • We built a reputation by getting excess calcium problems out of the body, so I developed an anti-calcium bias
  • Calcium is and has always been necessary in the body
  • As this process has evolved over 7 years now, it appears that calcium deficiency in some (not all) people has become a legitimate issue
    • Low “vitamin” A foods are commonly low in calcium
    • High fiber diets can reduce calcium absorption
    • High sodium intakes can antagonize calcium
  • I have never been against getting calcium from foods
  • I have always been very hesitant about calcium supplements, you’ll see why
  • We are now going to fix this oversight, resolve the calcium deficiency issues in people who have it, and continue helping people heal even better moving forward

My RBTI Experience

  • They believe all health is tied to a balance of six calciums in the body
  • Matt Stone and I tried it out. We eventually abandoned it for low “vitamin” A
  • Seemed to fix many things quickly at the start (honeymoon phase!)
  • Problems seemed to creep back over time, even while doing it
  • Stopping the OCD program led to previous problems coming back worse than before (a very bad sign indicative of symptom suppression)
  • Very few people still do this approach
  • Require regular saliva and urine pH monitoring (you’ll see why this is important!)
  • Challen Waychoff was the main RBTI practitioner and teacher
    • Said to be in “perfect health” with “perfect RBTI test numbers”
    • Died suddenly of a massive heart attack at age 70

Law of Unintended Consequences:

Law of Unintended Consequences | Reference Library | Economics | tutor2u: https://www.tutor2u.net/economics/reference/law-of-unintended-consequences 

“Fixing” one disease while creating another is all too common, particularly as related to megadosing supplements (even essential ones!)

“Low” Calcium Intakes:

Calcium Supplementation: Why, Which, and How? – PMC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6844170/ 

Current calcium fortification experiences: a review – PMC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8246751/ 

RDA vs Tolerable Upper Limits:

Calcium in Biology

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_in_biology

Calcium Carbonate in Geoengineering:

First sun-dimming experiment will test a way to cool Earth: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-07533-4 

A Bill Gates Venture Aims To Spray Dust Into The Atmosphere To Block The Sun. What Could Go Wrong?: https://www.forbes.com/sites/arielcohen/2021/01/11/bill-gates-backed-climate-solution-gains-traction-but-concerns-linger/ 

Calcium Food Fortification:

Nutrition – Improving Food Systems, Policy, & Advocacy: https://www.gatesfoundation.org/our-work/programs/global-growth-and-opportunity/nutrition 

Calcium‐fortified foods in public health programs: considerations for implementation – PMC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7891425/ 

Calcium-Fortified Foods

Open PDF Calcium Fortified Foods 10.1053@j.jrn.2004.04.010

https://www.jrnjournal.org/article/S1051-2276(04)00070-6/abstract

Current calcium fortification experiences: a review – PMC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8246751/ 

Key Terms Used When “They” Don’t Want to Say Excess or Toxicity:

Calcium “signaling”:

https://search.brave.com/search?q=calcium+signaling+pubmed&source=desktop

Calcium “homeostasis”:

https://search.brave.com/search?q=calcium+homeostasis+pubmed&source=desktop

Calcium “dysregulation”:
https://search.brave.com/search?q=calcium+dysregulationpubmed&source=web 

Calcium and Bile:

Bile salts and calcium absorption – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4291037/ 

Premicellar taurocholate enhances calcium uptake from all regions of rat small intestine – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8143992/ 

Cholestasis shuts down calcium signaling in cholangiocytes – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14752844/ 

Does it make a difference how and when you take your calcium? The acute effects of calcium on calcium and bone metabolism – ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523063232 

Calcium-Alkali Syndrome in the Modern Era: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/5/12/4880 

Differential effects of calcium ions and calcium phosphate on cytotoxicity of bile acids – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1987802/ 

Higher Calcium Levels and Disease:

The effect of calcium and vitamin A in patients with metabolic-associated fatty liver diseases | Beni-Suef University Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences | Full Text: https://bjbas.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s43088-025-00612-2

Association of serum calcium levels with diabetic kidney disease in normocalcemic type 2 diabetes patients: a cross-sectional study | Scientific Reports: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-72747-8 

Calcium/Magnesium Ratio:

Calcium to magnesium intake ratio and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease development: a case-control study | BMC Endocrine Disorders | Full Text: https://bmcendocrdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12902-021-00721-w 

Decreased magnesium status may mediate the increased cardiovascular risk associated with calcium supplementation – PMC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5708314/ 

Calcium Carbonate Side Effects:

Frequently Asked Questions About TUMS Products: https://www.tums.com/faqs/ 

Calcium Carbonate – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562303/ 

Risks Associated with Calcium Supplementation:

General:

The good, the bad, and the ugly of calcium supplementation: a review of calcium intake on human health – PMC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6276611/ 

Colon Cancer:

Calcium does not protect against colorectal neoplasia – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8899384/ 

Calcium and vitamin D supplementation and increased risk of serrated polyps: results from a randomized clinical trial – PMC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6286251/ 

Arthritis:

Association of oral calcium intake with osteoarthritis progression and knee replacement: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative – Osteoarthritis and Cartilage: https://www.oarsijournal.com/article/S1063-4584(16)00506-9/fulltext 

Kidney/Renal:

Cardiovascular complications of calcium supplementation in chronic kidney disease: are there arrhythmic risks? – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24999031/ 

Cardiovascular:

Cross-sectional association between blood cholesterol and calcium levels in genetically diverse strains of mice – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38129969/ 

Serum Calcium Increase Correlates With Worsening of Lipid Profile: An Observational Study on a Large Cohort From South Italy – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26937904/ 

Calcium Supplements and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33530332/ 

Associations of dietary calcium intake and calcium supplementation with myocardial infarction and stroke risk and overall cardiovascular mortality in the Heidelberg cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study (EPIC-He… | Heart: https://heart.bmj.com/content/98/12/920 

Calcium Intake From Diet and Supplements and the Risk of Coronary Artery Calcification and its Progression Among Older Adults: 10‐Year Follow‐up of the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) | Journal of the American Heart Association: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/JAHA.116.003815 

Calcium Supplementation, Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases, and Mortality: A Real-World Study of the Korean National Health Insurance Service Data – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35745268/ 

Vascular events in healthy older women receiving calcium supplementation: randomised controlled trial – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18198394/ 

Use of calcium supplements and the risk of coronary heart disease in 52-62-year-old women: The Kuopio Osteoporosis Risk Factor and Prevention Study – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19394167/ 

Calcium supplementation and inflammation increase mortality in rheumatoid arthritis: A 15-year cohort study in 609 patients from the Oslo Rheumatoid Arthritis Register – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27522465/ 

Effect of calcium supplements on risk of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular events: meta-analysis – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20671013/ 

CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTATION IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEART FAILURE: IS IT SAFE?

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263056587_54_Calcium_Supplementation_in_Patients_with_Chronic_Heart_Failure_Is_it_Safe

Effects of calcium on cardiovascular events in patients with kidney disease and in a healthy population – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20089502/ 

Calcium supplements controversy in osteoporosis: a physiological mechanism supporting cardiovascular adverse effects – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25687221/ 

[The calcium debate–strong bones at the expense of cardiovascular health?] – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27120873/ 

Calcium supplements with or without vitamin D and risk of cardiovascular events: reanalysis of the Women’s Health Initiative limited access dataset and meta-analysis – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21505219/ 

Associations of Habitual Calcium Supplementation With Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality in Individuals With and Without Diabetes – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37506393/ 

Long term calcium intake and rates of all cause and cardiovascular mortality: community based prospective longitudinal cohort study – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23403980/ 

Risk of Ischemic Stroke Associated With Calcium Supplements With or Without Vitamin D: A Nested Case-Control Study – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28522672/ 

Gallstones:

Increased biliary calcium in cholesterol gallstone formation – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3341526/ 

Oral calcium promotes pigment gallstone formation – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2704225/ 

Changes in serum calcium levels influence biliary calcium levels in humans – Gastroenterology: https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/0016-5085(94)90825-7/fulltext 

Porcelain Gallbladder – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK518979/ 

Limy bile (Milk of calcium bile) associated with gall stones discovered incidentally during laparoscopic cholecystectomy – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31357104/ 

Calcium in human gallbladder bile – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1453109/ 

The role of biliary calcium in gallstone pathogenesis: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/11288389_The_role_of_biliary_calcium_in_gallstone_pathogenesis 

Lack of relationship between serum and gallbladder bile calcium in patients with gallstone disease

Open PDF Lack of Relationship GB Ca Bile 10.1080@00365519850186111

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00365519850186111

Calcium and calcium binding in human gallstone disease – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2244815/ 

Absorption of biliary calcium from the canine gallbladder: protection against the formation of calcium-containing gallstones – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3655517/ 

Calcium and carbonate ion concentrations in gallbladder and hepatic bile – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1568581/ 

Increased activity of ionised calcium in gall bladder bile in gall stone disease – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1446869/ 

Variation of calcium, copper and iron levels in serum, bile and stone samples of patients having different types of gallstone: A comparative study – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28625681/ 

Sippy Regimen and Milk-Alkali and Calcium-Alkali Syndromes

Sippy of the Sippy diet regimen – Gastroenterology: https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(05)00358-6/fulltext 

Milk-Alkali Syndrome – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557500/ 

Milk-alkali syndrome – Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk-alkali_syndrome 

Decoding Physiology: Calcium Alkali Syndrome Part 2 – YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUB23kLcU2s 

Antacids revisited: a review of their clinical pharmacology and recommended therapeutic use – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10400401/ 

Milk-alkali syndrome: a ‘quick ease’ or a ‘long-lasting problem’ – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32408269/ 

[Effect of antacids on mineral metabolism] – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6858403/ 

[A case of the milk-alkali syndrome with a small amount of milk and magnesium oxide ingestion–the contribution of sustained metabolic alkalosis induced by hypertonic dehydration] – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1920938/ 

Calcium carbonate toxicity: the updated milk-alkali syndrome; report of 3 cases and review of the literature – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16006300/ 

Milk-alkali syndrome associated with calcium carbonate consumption. Report of 7 patients with parathyroid hormone levels and an estimate of prevalence among patients hospitalized with hypercalcemia – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7891547/ 

Lessons of the month: Over-the-counter antacids causing hypercalcaemia: The emergence of calcium-alkali syndrome – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32675162/ 

Calcium & Biofilms:

Calcium carbonate mineralization is essential for biofilm formation and lung colonization – PMC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9062676/ 

Unraveling the significance of calcium as a biofilm promotion signal for Bacillus licheniformis strains isolated from dairy products – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38519175/ 

Calcium Prevents Biofilm Dispersion in Bacillus subtilis – PMC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8223931/ 

Mistruths Being Promoted About Niacin and Zeolite:

Association of dietary niacin intake with osteoporosis in the postmenopausal women in the US: NHANES 2007-2018 – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39975675/ 

Treatment of osteoporosis with a modified zeolite shows beneficial effects in an osteoporotic rat model and a human clinical trial – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33183068/ 

Symptoms Already Showing in Megadosers:

Honeymoon periods – happening, then ending, similar to RBTI

Megadosing – 2, 5, 10, 20+ grams of calcium per day (!!!)

Symptom chasing – taking more and more calcium (typically carbonate) until returning symptoms are suppressed, this is a drug-like effect mimicking tolerance

Known “sedation” related effects of metabolic alkalosis:

  • Increased ethanol/alcohol production in the stomach from antacids lowering the pH:
  • Cerebral vasoconstriction
    • Elevated pH constricts blood vessels in the brain, reducing blood flow
    • Reduced blood flow to the brain can lead to lightheadedness, dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, and/or lethargy
  • Reduced ionized calcium due to effect on albumin
    • Chronic alkalosis increases calcium binding to albumin, reducing free (ionized) calcium
    • Creates a vicious cycle
      • More alkalosis from carbonate intake, more albumin over time
      • More albumin, less free calcium
      • People take MORE calcium carbonate to brute force getting the drug-like “effect”
      • More carbonate = more alkalosis
      • And on and on until the system breaks
    • High pH in the nervous system can cause:
      • Sluggish thinking, slowed reflexes, and sedative-like states
  • Hypokalemia (low potassium)
  • Often occurs with metabolic alkalosis
  • Hypercalcemia from supplements is known to cause hypokalemia
  • Can result in muscle weakness, fatigue, apathy

“Withdrawal” symptoms occurring:

  • Chronic high calcium intake suppresses parathyroid hormone (PTH)
    • If intake drops suddenly after suppression, calcium dysregulation can occur (symptoms from hypocalcemia), this is a known issue in milk-alkali syndrome
  • Rebound Gastric Acid Hypersecretion
    • Chronic use of calcium carbonate as an antacid (e.g., in GERD) is known to cause a rebound excessive acid production

Most advice being that any symptom that pops up means they need more calcium

Constipation – classic sign of hypothyroid & atonic (lack of muscle tone) effect of hypercalcemia, related to excess calcium-to-potassium ratio on hair testing 

Frequent urination – classic sign of blood sugar issues & diuretic effect of hypercalcemia, related to excess calcium-to-magnesium ratio on hair testing

  • High-dose calcium carbonate is known to cause milk-alkali syndrome. This can lead to kidney (renal) effects that lead to increased urination, mimicking a diuretic effect:
    • Polyuria (frequent urination)
    • Polydipsia (increased thirst) 
    • Nocturia (nighttime urination)
  • Diuretic effect would aggravate/worsen all types of crystallization/stone formation by concentrating body fluids in general: oxalate, urate, kidney stones, gallstones, calcification of soft tissues
    • On the Presence of Insoluble Salts of Calcium (Oxalate and Phosphate) in Renal Calculi in Large Amount in a Preponderating Number of Cases, and the Bearing of this Finding upon Calcium in Gout and Allied Conditions – PMC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1276351  

Zinc Inhibits Calcium Carbonate Precipitation/Crystallization:

Calcium carbonate scale control, effect of material and inhibitors – PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14982176/ 

My Calcium Recommendations Going Forward:

  • First, shoot for at least 500mg of calcium per day from FOOD
  • Calcium supplementation–if one chooses to do it–should not be done at higher than 500mg total per day
    • Calcium carbonate is advised against entirely
    • I cannot recommend a total calcium intake over 1000mg/day based on the research above
    • Take any calcium supplements with food
    • There will be more information on calcium supplementation in the future