During my studies, internship and now as a resident in general practice in Sweden I've never heard about calcium preparations being used or even considered for treating or preventing allergies. This belief is most probably very uncommon in Sweden.

Best regards,

Jonas Eriksson, MD, PhD in allergology

Resident in General Practice

Hi Wojciech,

I have practiced in several major hospitals in Spain. I have never heard of this neither in Oviedo, Gijón, Mieres or Barcelona. I have had no notice of it in my international rotations either (Boston, Pittsburgh).

I hope this is of some help. 

Best wishes

Miguel

Hi Wojciech,

I'm from Bulgaria, here it's very comon for GPs to prescribe Ca gluconici for babies and kids when they suspect allergies. I myself and most of pediatritians never done it. But it's popular in here especialy by the older generation doctors. I prefer using antihistamines ot corticosteroids (depending the allergy reaction) in these cases.

Best wishes

Gala

I'm from Turkey, in our contry it is not popular . I myself also don't prefer it. There is no evidence for usage

I am from Denmark. Iwas one year at an allergology/pulmonology clinic, have spent some years in other clinical practice and many years in research in allergy and in airway diseases. In addition I have always had an interest in complementary medicine. I don't think I have ever met or heard mention of the belief that calcium prepartions cure or relieve allergies.

There is no such a belief in France even in traditional medecine.

Dear Colleagues,

Many thanks for all answers from every single one you.

My survey allowed me to summarize, that this belief exists in several countries of Central Europe: Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany and Poland. Although, I did not receive any response from any Czech allergist, I expect, that they do it similarly.

Does this treatment modality come from the former Austro-Hungarian Monarchy ? Or is it a relict of former communist medicine...? And most important - does it really work ?

We wish ourselves to find an answer to this question soon.

It is very common among patients and also some doctors I'm afraid.

Dear Colleagues,

It is quite a common belief in Slovenia among older doctors and patients. I've heard it came from one of the first antihistamine that was available and the comercial name of the drug containted Ca

I am from Thailand. It also has no any medical practices or patients' belief of the issue.

Regards,

Suwat

Nobody in Israel believes it helps

But are there any physycians who would reccomend it ?

Unfortunately, the vast majority of Hungarian physician's believe and use it. :(

I observe that most of patients acc to  tradition and ... commercial advertising use calcium to  cure allergy. It is astonishing  that some physicians ( Central Europe) also use calcium, even  in the form of injection

Dear Wojciech, in Serbia calcium is sometimes recommended by pharmacists for prevention of allergies. Physicians rarely recommend calcium for this indication.