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Calcium deficiency

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I was diagnosed in 2017 and been on imatinib since then. I'm tolerating the imatinib pretty well but my gp is concerned about low calcium levels. Does anyone have any experience or problems with imatinib causing low calcium levels.

Hi Alice,

I looked back at my test results and calcium levels seem to have been stable for me.

Do you know what your vitamin D level is?  If it's low, I've heard it can cause problems with calcium absorption.

Hello and thank you,

My vitamin D is ok, it has been on the low side from time to time but mostly ok. I think you are correct in that vitamin D is an important contributor to Calcium levels.

HI Alice,

All TKI's affect our electrolytes - Na, K, Mg and Ca. Na and K are very easy to obtain through diet, sometimes too much and are not usually a problem - but Mg is more difficult to obtain and mg depletion affects Ca.

Also - two vitamins that work together and are needed to help keep calcium moving through the body and maintain levels are vitamin D and K2. Vitamin D helps absorb calcium - most people are deficient. Vitamin K2 helps calcium deposit into bone and keeps calcium from depositing in soft tissue (i.e. arteries).

Consider getting your vitamin D level checked so you know your baseline and then supplement to get your vitamin D level over 50 ng/ml (ideally 70 ng/ml). Take a vitamin K2 supplement (200 mgc) so that you have the two vitamins working together.  I take 5,000/10,000 IU's vitamin D3 along with 200 mcg vitamin K2 daily (with food that has fat).