Coral Calcium is a salt of calcium derived from fossilized coral reefs. Because living coral reefs are endangered and cannot be harvested without significant damage to the ecosystem, coral calcium is harvested by grinding up above-ground limestone deposits that were once part of a coral reef. Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... This article is about common table salt. ... For other uses, see Calcium (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Fossil (disambiguation). ... Some of the biodiversity of a coral reef, in this case the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. ... For other uses, see Limestone (disambiguation). ...

Chemistry

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Coral calcium itself is composed primarily of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) with small amounts of magnesium and other trace minerals. Chemically, calcium carbonate from coral is no different from calcium carbonate from other sources, despite the claims of some companies selling this product. The only possible difference between coral calcium carbonate and other calcium carbonate would be its radio-carbon fraction. There is evidence that in some cases, molecules that contain radioactive atoms can deviate in chemical behavior from those that do not. Calcium carbonate is a chemical compound, with the chemical formula CaCO3. ... General Name, symbol, number magnesium, Mg, 12 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, period, block 2, 3, s Appearance silvery white solid at room temp Standard atomic weight 24. ... Microminerals (also known as trace elements) are micronutrients that are chemical elements. ...

Much attention has been given to calcium carbonate's ability to change the pH (or alkalinity) of water-based solutions to which it is added. With respect to pH and alkalinity, the calcium component is less important than the carbonate component, which is chemically similar to the bicarbonate in baking soda. When dissolved in solution, calcium carbonate dissociates into calcium cations (positive ions) and carbonate anions (negative ions). Once in solution, carbonate ions will increase the pH (and alkalinity) of solutions to which they are added. pH can be tested using a litmus test. Sea surface alkalinity (from the GLODAP climatology) Alkalinity or AT is a measure of the ability of a solution to neutralize acids to the equivalence point of carbonate or bicarbonate. ... Ball-and-stick model of the carbonate ion, CO32− For other meanings, see Carbonate (disambiguation) In chemistry, a carbonate is a salt or ester of carbonic acid. ... For baking soda, see Sodium bicarbonate In inorganic chemistry, a bicarbonate (IUPAC-recommended nomenclature: hydrogencarbonate) is an intermediate form in the deprotonation of carbonic acid. ... Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), or sodium hydrogen carbonate, also known as baking soda and bicarbonate of soda, is a soluble white anhydrous or crystalline compound, with a slight alkaline taste resembling that of sodium carbonate. ... An ion is an atom or group of atoms with a net electric charge. ... This article is about the electrically charged particle. ... ... Litmus is a water-soluble mixture of different dyes extracted from lichens, specially Roccella tinctoria. ...

Health Claim Controversy

There have been many unsubstantiated claims made regarding coral calcium, perhaps the most controversial of which is that taking coral calcium can cure cancer by increasing "body pH." Scientific studies have been performed indicating that cancer cells cannot survive at sufficiently high pH levels. What the marketers of coral calcium usually fail to mention is that these studies were conducted in-vitro and not on living tissue. The reason for this is that the pH level required to kill cancer cells also kills healthy human cells.^{[neutrality disputed]} Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these to spread, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion, or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis (where cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system). ... For other uses, see PH (disambiguation). ... In vitro (Latin: within the glass) refers to the technique of performing a given experiment in a test tube, or, generally, in a controlled environment outside a living organism. ...

Another problem with the "body alkalinization" idea is that the body pH doesn't change, regardless of how much calcium carbonate is ingested. The human body can only function properly within a narrow pH range, and if alkalinizing agents such as CaCO₃ are ingested, the body promptly excretes the alkaline components in urine. So, people who attempt to increase the pH of their bodies are really only succeeding in raising the pH of their urine. The same applies if acidic foods are ingested in that the urine becomes more acidic. Additionally, it can be dangerous for people with certain medical conditions (such as kidney failure) to take excess coral calcium.^{[neutrality disputed]} Renal failure is when the kidneys fail to function properly. ...

Calcium itself is an essential mineral for human life, and coral calcium is an effective source of it, though by no means the only one. While the calcium component of coral calcium is identical to any other limestone deposit, fossilized coral reefs may contain trace minerals helpful to the human body, though it's unlikely that a well-nourished individual would be deficient in any of these minerals. For other uses, see Mineral (disambiguation). ...

Dr. Stephen Barrett, alternative medicine critic, said: "Limestone has no unique health properties."^[1] Some proponents of natural medicine and nutritional supplements have condemned coral calcium and its fraud.^[2] Stephen J. Barrett, M.D. (born 1933), is a retired American psychiatrist and author best known as the founder of the National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF) and the webmaster of Quackwatch. ... Alternative medicine has been described as any of various systems of healing or treating disease (as chiropractic, homeopathy, or faith healing) not included in the traditional medical curricula taught in the United States and Britain.[1] Alternative medicine practices are often based in belief systems not derived from modern science. ...

See also

• Calcium
• Carbonate
• Coral reef
• Limestone
• Robert Barefoot

For other uses, see Calcium (disambiguation). ... Ball-and-stick model of the carbonate ion, CO32− For other meanings, see Carbonate (disambiguation) In chemistry, a carbonate is a salt or ester of carbonic acid. ... Some of the biodiversity of a coral reef, in this case the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. ... For other uses, see Limestone (disambiguation). ... Robert R. Barefoot (born 1944) is a controversial alternative medicine proponent who advocates the use of coral calcium through his books, lectures, audiotapes and infomercials. ...

References

Quackwatch Inc. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 156th day of the year (157th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 155th day of the year (156th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Beat Cancer the Barefoot Way – Piping Hot from DietPower, June 2003
• Acid or Alkaline? - Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
• Coral Calcium: A Barefoot Scam - Leon Jaroff, Time magazine article
• Marketers of coral calcium product are prohibited from making disease treatment and cure claims in advertising. - FTC news release, Jan 22, 2004