Recommended Dosages of Calcium Intake. The bones of the human skeleton contain 99% of the total calcium in the body. The calcium within bones is available to the body should the body need it for other purposes. It is the activity of bone osteoclasts which absorb the calcium in the bone and release it into the blood stream. Remember, it is the calcium within the bones which makes them strong. The daily recommended dietary calcium intake varies by age, sex, and menopausal status. Recent studies have shown that many American girls do not get enough calcium in their diet after the age of 11. Much of this is blamed upon the substitution of sodas in the diet for milk, yet the problem does not seem to be the same for males (for a number of subtle reasons).  It is important to know that most women (of all ages) do not get enough calcium in their diet either.  The vast majority of endocrinologists encourage their female patients to take supplemental calcium daily.  One of the easiest and most effective methods of increasing your calcium intake is to take an oral calcium supplement.  There are several forms of oral calcium readily available over the counter which can help maintain healthy bones and prevent osteoporosis.  The following list shows the recommended calcium intake according to age, sex and hormone status.   Age Amount of Daily Calcium Infants Birth to 6 months 400mg Six months to 1 year 600mg Children/Young Adults One to 10 years 800 - 1,200 mg 11 to 24 years 1,200 - 1,500 mg Adult Women Pregnant or Lactating 1,200 - 1,500 mg 25 to 49 years (premenopausal) 1,000 mg 50 to 64 years (postmenopausal taking estrogen or similar hormone) 1,000 mg 50 to 64 years (postmenopausal not taking  estrogen or similar hormone) 1,500 mg Over 65 years old 1,500 mg Adult Men 25 to 64 years old 1,000 mg Over 65 years old 1,500 mg Source: National Institutes of Health Consensus Panel, Optimal Calcium Intake, 1994.   *Please note these suggested levels of calcium intake are based on the fact that pill/capsule type calcium supplements aren't totally digested. If one takes a 1,000 mg calcium tablet or pill, less than 25% of the available calcium will be digested.  Therefore, you receive approximatly only 250 mg of calcium.   There are calcium supplements now available that offer a 75% to 99% total availability   Back to Calcium Information Return to the main Calcium page Back to Nutritional page. Question? Email us!   "These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, cure, prevent or treat any diseases." The above is a Government ORDERED statement. It is NOT based in either reality or sanity. Just like our Government. In a landmark decision on Friday, Jan. 15, 1999, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that the health claim rules imposed by the FDA unconstitutional and in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. The court instructed the FDA to define "significant scientific agreement" for health claims on dietary supplement labels, and instructed the FDA to allow the use of disclaimers on labels rather than to suppress these claims outright. The court further held that four FDA Final rules (prohibiting certain nutrient disease relationship claims) invalid under the first Amendment to the Constitution.