Calcium Question

I have been taking my Calcium Carbonate 600 MG chewable every mealtime (when I remember)to ensure it is absorbed best.  My sister claims she was told by her nutritionist to take it between meals.

Who is right?

I  take a prescription liquid calcium 1 time a day and 1 other besides that....... Hope that helps............  Good luck to you................

I was told to take mine with food, so after each meal I pop one!

Kevin,

You may want to re-think your use of calcium carbonate vs. calcium citrate.  Those of us with RNY and little pouches have less stomach acid than the normal folks.  Calcium carbonate requires stomach acid to be absorbed more readily.  Here's some info from the National Institutes of Health website on calcium:

"The two main forms of calcium in supplements are carbonate and citrate. Calcium carbonate is more commonly available and is both inexpensive and convenient. Both the carbonate and citrate forms are similarly well absorbed, but individuals with reduced levels of stomach acid can absorb calcium citrate more easily. Other calcium forms in supplements or fortified foods include gluconate, lactate, and phosphate. Calcium citrate malate is a well-absorbed form of calcium found in some fortified juices [8]. The body absorbs calcium carbonate most efficiently when the supplement is consumed with food, whereas the body can absorb calcium citrate equally effectively when the supplement is taken with or without food [9]."

http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/calcium.a sp

Just thought I'd pass this along.

 

      


Wow - Lori - I'm impressed!  Thanks for sharing this info!!  That's the clearest explanation I think I've ever seen or heard!

Thank you Lori!  I appreciate that info a great deal.  I will go back to the Calcium Citrate that I started before but thought was too big of a pain since i could rarely find it.

Any suggestions on where to get a chewable other than online at BA? 

Kevin

Kevin,

Yes, my Doctor also told me Calcium Citrate......

I take the Citracal Calcium Citrate petites, 2 in the am. 2 at lunch 2 at dinner. = 1200 mg.

They are still kind of big pills, I have no troubles.....

There is chewable calcium called Twin tabs...

Kelly

The best calcium I eventually found was the BA. It is a little spendy, but for me it was what I could stick with best and found most enjoyable to consume. They also have the chewy bites but I can't recall if they are citrate. Also BA has free shipping and prices are comparable to the BA you can find at the Unity hospital pharmacy or the Gallery Tower pharmacy if you sign up for their automatic refill program. I don't know if other hospital pharmacies carry BA as well. Calcium was the hardest thing for me, trying to find something that wouldn't annoy the heck out of me to take constantly. 1200mg a day is the recommendation now so 3 a day isn't so bad. I like the cherry lozenges but they have a few flavors. Good luck, it's hard to find something that works.

Kevin,

I buy all my vitamins and supplements either from Costco or Iherb.com.  The Costco calcium citrate is what I take now, but the pills are pretty big.  Now that I'm an old-timer, that doesn't matter to me.  From Iherb, I've ordered the Twinlab chewable wafers, and I've also used the Blue Bonnet liquid calcium.  That liquid doesn't taste bad at all.  It comes in a few different flavors too.  Here are links to both products.  Iherb is a great company - they have everything - I've never had any trouble with them in the past 7 years or so.

Good luck!

http://www.iherb.com/Twinlab-Calcium-Citrate-Chewable-Wafers -60-Wafers/2302?at=0

http://www.iherb.com/Bluebonnet-Nutrition-Liquid-Calcium-Mag nesium-Citrate-Natural-Blueberry-Flavor-16-fl-oz-472-ml/9797 ?at=0