August 2011 - Calcium is an essential macronutrient whose primary function is the mineralization of the skeleton (it is about 25% of bone dry weight and represents an average of 1.5% body weight). This white paper describes how calcium enrichment helps to compensate for diets deficient in calcium and helps fight against osteoporosis. It also plays an important role in muscle contraction, transmission of nerve impulses, blood clotting and in many enzyme reactions at the cellular level. Calcium salts have also very important technological functions in different processes of food processing.