EGG SHELL POWDER AS NATURAL CALCIUM SUPPLEMENT

Can we make our kitchen waste productive? Do you know it could be a good source of calcium just like traditional calcium supplements available at pharmacies? Guess, what is it? Yes, it is the egg shell of chicken or hen eggs. Surprising! It could be a natural source of calcium especially for those who can’t afford expensive calcium supplements due to low-socio economic background for managing calcium deficiency condition or in rural areas where people are not fulfilling their daily requirements of calcium may be due to food restriction (vegetarian) or due to low food availability or intake.

WHAT IS DAILY REQUIREMENT OF CALCIUM FOR ADULTS?
The daily requirements for different age group is different. Have a look,
• From 12 years to 18 years (adolescents) 1300mg /day
• For adult is 1000mg/ day
• For women over 50years and men over 70 years is1200mg/day.
• For pregnant women 1200mg/ day

SOURCES OF CALICUM
1. Dairy products include milk, yogurt, cheese
2. Leafy green vegetables
3. Seafood includes canned salmon with bones, sardines and shrimp
4. Almonds, chia seeds, dried fig, sesame seeds
5. Fortified orange juices cereals and tofu
6. Legumes and beans
7. Soy milk (use as alternative of milk but fortified with calcium)
8. Broccoli

IMPORTANCE OF CALCIUM
Calcium is very important, vital and essential micronutrient or mineral for bones and for different physiological functions of the body. It is not only required for growth and maintenance of bones and teeth health but also required for skeletal and smooth muscles contraction and nerves signaling (way of communication between brain with rest of the body). It helps in blood clotting hormonal release, enzyme functions and in lowering blood pressure (in pregnancy also).

ABOUT EGG SHELL
It is outer, hard and protective porous covering of hen egg which will allow only the exchange of gases and prevent the eggs or embryo from the entrance of pathogens. Let’s discuss some about egg shell composition,

COMPOSITION OF EGG SHELL
0ne dry egg shell mainly (around 90%to94%) composed of calcium manganese, iron, copper, zinc, phosphorus, sulfur, iodine, strontium (chemical analog of calcium), selenium, fluoride and carbonate along with trace amount of sodium, potassium, magnesium, hydroxyapatite (use in bones and tooth therapy). Organic matrix (includes glycoprotein, collagen and others protein which secure calcium carbonate crystals and provide structural integrity and support to egg shell).

CELL MEMBRANE OF EGGS
Cell membrane of eggs is composed of protein primarily collagen with glycoprotein, proteoglycans, lysozyme, glycosaminoglycans (chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid), glucosamine, Ovo transferrin, osteopontin, elastin and keratin with trace amount of others minerals, lipids and sugar.

EGG SHELL USAGE
Egg is considered as by product waste of hen eggs. However, it can be used as productive material in many ways. Let’s delve it,

AS A NATURAL CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS
Egg shell can be used as natural source of calcium because of presence of calcium carbonate. There are many studies which are indicating calcium absorption or bioavailability from egg shell is 64% higher as compare to pure calcium carbonate supplements.

WHY CALCIUM IS MORE BIO- AVAILABLE OR EFFECTIVE AS COMPARE TO COMMERCIAL CALCIUM CARBONATE SUPPLEMENTS?
The reasons are as follow,
1. Bone supporting trace minerals selenium and stornium and some protein in the egg shell make the calcium more bio available.
2. Magnesium, phosphorus, collagen, selenium, stornium further aid in improving bone strengthening and health.
3. During the making of egg shell powder from the egg shells, cell membrane is also the part of it. Due to the presence of abovementioned protein, peptides and enzymes in the cell membrane, there will effective dissolution of calcium from the calcium carbonate of egg shell which after binding with cell membrane proteins form complex or chelates which will therefore, enhance calcium solubility, absorption and utilization from the gastrointestinal tract.
4. Protein, peptides, enzymes and others organic substances along with minerals work synergistically with calcium for overall improvement of bone, skeletal, cartilage and connective tissues health while pure calcium carbonate as supplements lack that natural ratio of effective components.
Therefore, we can say that presence of organic substances and others trace elements in the egg shell along with cell membrane may potentiate the effects of calcium.

According to ResearchGate, ” Many clinical and experimental studies show positive effects of egg shell powder on bone and cartilage and it is suitable source of calcium for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.”

Rachitis or rickets is a disease in children due to calcium or vitamin D deficiency or due to genetical factors. It is characterized by soft or fragile bones with skeletal deformities. Administration of egg shell powder improves the condition of rickets which is visible through gain in weight, reduction of skeletal deformities and better physical health.

The Journal of Clinical Intervention of A3 ging study findings indicate that consumption of egg shell calcium in postmenopausal women improves overall BMD while synthetic or pure calcium carbonate lack it.

CELL MEMBRANE OF EGGS AND JOINT HEALTH
Many studies are supporting that the  consistent use of egg cell membrane boost joint health by improving flexibility and functions of joint over a few weeks.

According to some studies, daily use of cell membrane supplementation may improve knee functionality in osteoarthritis by reducing pain and stiffness. The Journal of Clinical Intervention of Aging study findings also support its effectiveness against knee osteoarthritis.

HOW CELL MEMBRANE SUPPORT JOINT HEALTH?
Component of cell membrane support the  joint health by the following mechanism,

• By reducing inflammation and pain
• By supporting and maintaining the  structure of joint, cartilage and connective tissues
• By reducing stiffness and friction and by  improving flexibility, lubrication and mobility of joints.
• By enhancing cartilage repairing.

DOSAGE OF EGG SHELL OR EGG SHELL POWDER 
1 gram of egg shell provides 381mg to 401mg of calcium. In simple words half of an egg shell or 1 teaspoon of egg shell powder may provide enough calcium to meet the daily requirement of adults.

AS NATURAL REMEDY FOR TOOTH CLEANING
Mix in 1:1 ratio egg shell powder and sea salt. Presence of calcium and hydroxyapatite in the egg shell powder boost remineralization of enamel and antibacterial properties of sea salt clean the oral cavity. In short, it is very much helpful in whitening the teeth ,in removing the plaque and in preventing cavities.

EGG SHELL USE IN FERTILIZER
Presence of 95% of calcium carbonate make egg shell powder or egg shell a valuable, cheapest and effective source in improving soil quality for healthy growth of plants by reducing acidity and by providing calcium and others micronutrients.

EGG SHELL FOR PETS
Incorporate egg shell powder into feed of those birds which lay eggs. It can be used for managing mild diarrhea of pets (birds or animals like cats and dogs) just by adding 2 teaspoon of egg shell powder into their feed.

FOR CLEANING
Egg shell can be used as a scrub for cleaning used dishes stain, grease or for burnt utensils cleaning. It can be used to maintain clean drain just by coarsely crushing egg shell and put it over drain and run-down hot water.

FOR REDUCING COFFEE BITTERNESS
A very little amount of egg shell fine powder can be used in order to reduces coffee bitterness and for improving its flavor. Due to presence of calcium, it can be used in making of ice cream.

EGG SHELL FOR BEAUTY
Make the paste of fine egg shell powder with water and freeze it as ice cube in ice cube tray. Its cooling effects reduces puffiness and inflammation of skin and helps in exfoliating the skin. Presence of collagen, calcium and minerals will support overall skin health. Therefore, it is effective against prickly heat or heat rash or miliaria rubra, acne and chloasma or melasma.

HOW CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS CAN BE PREPARED FROM THE EGG SHELL?
II can be prepared as follows,
Wash the egg shell under the running water to remove egg residue or any contamination which can be risk factors for infection. Boil it or baked it (at 350°F in oven) for 10 minutes and let them dry completely and grind it into fine powder which can filled into capsules or mix it with smoothie, water, juice, yogurt, baked items or in ice cream making.

SAFETY AND PRECAUTIONS
• Properly grind it to minimize the risk of throat injury or puncture.
• Boil or sterilize it properly in order to lessen the risk of infection because it may be contaminated with bacteria or salmonella enteritidis.
• Taking too much calcium supplements may become the risk factor of kidney stone and cardiovascular diseases.
• Contamination with toxic metals (cadmium, lead, mercury and almunium) should be taken into consideration because natural calcium supplements may contain these toxic metals. However, risk is less with egg shell.
• Egg shell powder is not suitable for people who are allergic to eggs.

CONCLUSION
Calcium from egg shell is generally considered as over looked source of calcium. However, its richness with enzyme, minerals and with others bone supporting nutrients make it superior over synthetic calcium supplements. Natural egg shells powder is well absorbed as compare to synthetic calcium supplements. Larger and greater studies in this regard will clear the doubts. Pharmacist can play an important role by compounding and filling egg shell powder into capsules within the community to overcome the calcium deficiency issues in the cheapest and effective fashion.