Calcium
Total calcium is tightly distributed across adulthood, with only modest age- and sex-related shifts compared with most metabolic and liver analytes.
Unit: mg/dL · 12 groups · age and sex · 1 source
Filed under panels: Metabolic Panel , Electrolyte Panel · topics: Metabolic , Renal , Electrolytes
Calcium by age and sex
| Age (years) | Males (mg/dL) | Females (mg/dL) |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | median 9.4 middle 90% 8.9 to 9.9 | median 9.2 middle 90% 8.8 to 9.8 |
| 30-39 | median 9.3 middle 90% 8.8 to 9.8 | median 9.1 middle 90% 8.6 to 9.7 |
| 40-49 | median 9.3 middle 90% 8.8 to 9.8 | median 9.1 middle 90% 8.6 to 9.7 |
| 50-59 | median 9.2 middle 90% 8.7 to 9.8 | median 9.3 middle 90% 8.7 to 10 |
| 60-69 | median 9.3 middle 90% 8.8 to 9.8 | median 9.4 middle 90% 8.8 to 10 |
| 70+ | median 9.3 middle 90% 8.7 to 9.9 | median 9.3 middle 90% 8.8 to 10.2 |
Download Calcium percentiles (CSV) Values at full stored precision; tables on this site may round for display. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Population Distribution
These pages use total serum calcium from the NHANES chemistry profile. Total calcium is heavily homeostatically regulated and therefore shows a much narrower population spread than most enzymes or metabolic markers. These percentiles describe the full US population rather than a screened healthy subgroup. Note: 1 mg/dL is approximately 0.2495 mmol/L.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is calcium less variable than most other analytes?
Serum calcium is tightly regulated by parathyroid hormone, vitamin D, albumin binding, and renal handling. That homeostasis keeps the population distribution narrow.
Does this page show total or ionized calcium?
These NHANES pages use total calcium, not ionized calcium. Total calcium is influenced partly by albumin concentration because a portion of serum calcium is protein-bound.
How do I convert mg/dL to mmol/L?
Multiply by 0.2495. For example, 9.6 mg/dL is approximately 2.40 mmol/L.
Data Sources
Cite this data
LabNorms. Calcium population percentiles by age and sex. Data: NHANES 2017-March 2020 Pre-Pandemic. https://labnorms.com/analytes/calcium/. Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Accessed [date].
Download Calcium percentiles (CSV) Values at full stored precision; tables on this site may round for display. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.