Calcium and sleep - Alternative Medicine Message Board

SueA · 07-23-2002, 06:10 AM

I was told by a pharmicist to give my son some calcium supplement at night to help him sleep. (Sleeping all night is a big problem for him... he doesn't do it, 3.30am is his wake up time at the moment). She said something like "the calcium channels are more open then". Can anyone tell me what she was talking about? Sue

drs · 07-23-2002, 07:01 AM

Calcium is a good sleep aid, my mom uses it all the time, but you must have some Magnesium citrate to make it absorb correctly. Check out a good article about these two items.

Go to the thyroid dyfunction board.
Then,look for the post called'Information Archive'
Go to page #2 and scroll down till you get to the article on Magnesium.

Hope you little one is sleeping better soon.

I read your story about him, and hope he continues to do better. Good thing he's got a smart mom, who will check things out for his nutrition. I know it's hard to watch our little ones go though health problems.

Diana

[This message has been edited by drs (edited 07-23-2002).]

SueA · 07-26-2002, 06:24 AM

I gave my 8 year old some magnesium sulphate and calcium after his dinner and he actually slept until 7am. He has never done that before. His younger brother will usually wake him at odd hours so he was quite sleep deprived. The younger one also responded to the tablets, but not as well as I had hoped. I haven't come across the calcium citrate yet, is it available at health food shops?

Jay Tor · 07-27-2002, 08:28 PM

Calcium citrate is available at virtually any drug store and health store.

Speak with your local pharmacist. Calcium has become such a widely recommended/used supplement that most drug store chains have their own label, often in calcium-magnesium [and sometimes with Vitamin D] formulation.

SueA · 07-28-2002, 05:21 AM

Thanks for the info, the health food shop had a wide range of calcium products, just not one that said citrate. Does the citrate play an important part or will the one I have give the same results? Also would his calcium levels need to be checked regularly? Will the extra calcium tend to deplete his body of anything? Sue