Question:
Viactive??

I have read there are lots of differences between calcium citrate and calcium caltrate, but I am taking viactive and NO where on the box does it specify citrate or caltrate. Is this stuff being absorbed on post ops?    — Stacy B. (posted on January 10, 2003)

January 9, 2003
I recently looked on the box and it does say calcuim carbonate. That is the one that is hard to absorb. Calcuim citrate is what you are looking for. It's pretty easy to get mixed up. but the CALCUIM CARBONATE is only 8% absorbed by bypass patients.
   — Delores S.

January 9, 2003
HI, My Doctor recommended Viactive to me. He is a very prominient surgeon in the Boston WLS community. I'm sure that he wouldn't suggest this calcium product unless he felt it was beneficial.
   — Barbara M.

January 9, 2003
Dunny you should mention this: I saw my primary MD(whohead up Kaisers GBprogram in So Ca) two days ago for my 9 m check up- I told him I had a hard time taking calium due to the large size, he recommened "Viactive"..Sooooo.I went on to tell him about the controversy regarding carbonate vs citrate. He was shocked- had never heard that- said he would research and let me know for sure...so anyway-
   — ~~Stacie~~

January 9, 2003
Unfortunately, all the good tasting calcium chews are carbonate and RNY'ers should be having citrate. There is still some controversy out there whether we absorb the carbonate as well as the citrate, and not enough(or any) studies of post-ops to determine the truth, however, I have met several post-ops in my support groups who failed to take the citrate, and instead used the carbonate. Within a matter of a year, several of them had full fledged osteoporosis or the beginning signs of it. Not worth the risk. Make sure that your calcium citrate also has magnesium and vit D in it for better absorbtion.
   — Cindy R.

January 10, 2003
It blows my mind that there are still a variety of answers when someone asks this question. Those of you who say Viactiv is good are wrong as Viactiv is carbonate. Calcium carbonate must have an acid in order to be absorbed. RNY bypass people no longer have enough stomach acid to facilitate the carbonate's absorption. This is why if you are going to to go to the trouble to take calcium, you should take one that you can absorb,Calcium Citrate. Many surgeons offices tell you to take Tums and Viactiv or that regular carbonate pills are fine... this is not accurate information in light of our systems. Realize that our doctors are surgeons and specialize in cutting. Nutritionists employed by their offices usually dont know squat in my experience... they are low paid, and have little formal training regarding bariatric surgery. The fact is Carbonate needs acid to be absorbed, we dont have acid anymore with an RNY, so we take citrate so it can do us some good. Viactiv has carbonate.
   — SusanMaria

January 10, 2003
My pharmacist called the company and they told him it was citrate.
   — Pam W.

January 10, 2003
Both my surgeon and my family doc suggested Viactiv. Both know of the contraversy and both think that there have not been enough long term studies to go either way. I cannot take calcuim caltrate...it flat out makes me ill. So I take about 5 per day of viactiv. BUT viactiv is calcuim carbonate...I guess you just have do make your own decision.
   — Oldsoul

January 10, 2003
I am in the same boat as the last poster...the citrate pills make me sick to no end i tried them whole , halved, quarted, and crushed nothing worked so i ask my surgeon and my pcp about it becuase i didnt put my body thru this to later have bone problems. They both said that any calcium that i can get to stay down is better then no calcium at all that at least some of it was going to get absorbed to take the viacten (sp lol) chews and try to eat as much dairy protein as i could ...ie cheese and cottage cheese. I am aware that there is a contraversy about the type of calcium that we can and can not absorb so after this container of the chews are gone i am going to try the citrate again (after all its here gathering dust lol). My hope is now that my pouch has had a chance to heal a bit more htat it will work if it doesnt i will still take the chews because i agree with my docs ...any is better then none
   — Becky M.

January 10, 2003
For those that stated that taking citrate hurts their stomach...It did for me too until I opened the capsules (from vitalady.com) and put them in my protein shake. No longer hurts my stomach after that. Good luck and God Bless!
   — Kimberly L.

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