Final answer:
Measuring blood calcium levels is not an accurate indicator of total body calcium because the majority of calcium is stored in the bones and blood calcium levels are tightly regulated by the body. Other methods like DXA or bone density tests are used to accurately determine total body calcium levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
Measuring blood calcium levels is not an accurate indicator of total body calcium because the majority of calcium in the body is stored in the bones, not in the blood. Blood calcium levels are tightly regulated by the body, and any changes in calcium levels can lead to serious health issues. Therefore, measuring blood calcium levels alone does not provide a complete picture of the total body calcium content.
For example, a person with low blood calcium levels may still have sufficient calcium stored in their bones, while someone with high blood calcium levels may have underlying health conditions that are affecting their calcium balance. To accurately determine total body calcium levels, other methods like dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) or bone density tests are used to measure bone mineral density.
Learn more about Blood calcium levels and total body calcium