XP: So I'm a geek! Citrical vs. Citrical Petites testing
So it was brought up that a surgeon has stated to a patient that the citrical petites do not dissolve fast enough for us to absorb. And of course, I take *nothing* at face value. So I saw a challenge.
Now, keep in mind I did this in my kitchen, at home, under less than ideal cir****tances. Is it scientific? Hell no. But it does give us some basic info about these pills that I think helps alot of us out.
To start with, there were 4oz of luke-warm (around 97 degrees -=- I *tried* for 98.6, but it just didn't work out after 30 min.. sorry) in both glasses. The water is tap, and is silightly alkaline (thanks to the City of Wilson, NC water district). I did not modify the water in any form, or fashion.
Given it's slight alkalinity (and I do mean slight), this technically would be a disadvantage as comparing to our slightly acidic digestive systems (speaking to RNY and DS'ers here.. sorry banders, you guys kept all your acid).
The total test took 10 minutes.
Still shots were taken ever 30 seconds using a remote control on our camera, which was on a tripod (so no movement at all, these pills *sat* there and just did their thing without a single bit of intervention.. even kept the toddler at bay.. I deserve a medal for that feat!).
Pill on the left is Target's house brand of calcium citrate -- each pill has 315mg of elemental calcium. The pill on the right, of course, is the Citrical Petite, with 200mg of elemental calcium.
Action is *immediate*
10 minutes later
After stirring and the particulate has settled. Notice more *stuff* in the water to the right and more "stuff" at the bottom of the left glass?
Want to see this in animation?
After the pills were completely dissolved, we stirred the glasses. After the movement stopped in the glasses, we noticed some interesting things:
1) The regular citrical left more particulate at the bottom of the glass versus what was suspended in the liquid portion of the concoction;
2) The citrical petite had a much finer consistancy of it's leftover particulate in the bottom of the glass.. and there was a significant amount less than the other pill.. even more than what could be accounted for size of pill initially.
So what do I take away from this experiment? Both pills will dissolve easily in the virtually pH neutral RNY and DS digestive system in a very short period of time. Of the two, I would say the petite dissolves more thoroughly than the regular pill, but again, have no true way to test this.. it was only my perception (and my hubby's).
Thanks to my hubby for putting together the slide show and uploading all of this for me. He thought it was great fun to do mad science experiments in the kitchen. Must be a guy thing. BTW -- those photos *are* copyrighted to hubby (who is a photographer).. if you want to use them, please ask first.
Now, keep in mind I did this in my kitchen, at home, under less than ideal cir****tances. Is it scientific? Hell no. But it does give us some basic info about these pills that I think helps alot of us out.
To start with, there were 4oz of luke-warm (around 97 degrees -=- I *tried* for 98.6, but it just didn't work out after 30 min.. sorry) in both glasses. The water is tap, and is silightly alkaline (thanks to the City of Wilson, NC water district). I did not modify the water in any form, or fashion.
Given it's slight alkalinity (and I do mean slight), this technically would be a disadvantage as comparing to our slightly acidic digestive systems (speaking to RNY and DS'ers here.. sorry banders, you guys kept all your acid).
The total test took 10 minutes.
Still shots were taken ever 30 seconds using a remote control on our camera, which was on a tripod (so no movement at all, these pills *sat* there and just did their thing without a single bit of intervention.. even kept the toddler at bay.. I deserve a medal for that feat!).
Pill on the left is Target's house brand of calcium citrate -- each pill has 315mg of elemental calcium. The pill on the right, of course, is the Citrical Petite, with 200mg of elemental calcium.
Action is *immediate*
10 minutes later
After stirring and the particulate has settled. Notice more *stuff* in the water to the right and more "stuff" at the bottom of the left glass?
Want to see this in animation?
After the pills were completely dissolved, we stirred the glasses. After the movement stopped in the glasses, we noticed some interesting things:
1) The regular citrical left more particulate at the bottom of the glass versus what was suspended in the liquid portion of the concoction;
2) The citrical petite had a much finer consistancy of it's leftover particulate in the bottom of the glass.. and there was a significant amount less than the other pill.. even more than what could be accounted for size of pill initially.
So what do I take away from this experiment? Both pills will dissolve easily in the virtually pH neutral RNY and DS digestive system in a very short period of time. Of the two, I would say the petite dissolves more thoroughly than the regular pill, but again, have no true way to test this.. it was only my perception (and my hubby's).
Thanks to my hubby for putting together the slide show and uploading all of this for me. He thought it was great fun to do mad science experiments in the kitchen. Must be a guy thing. BTW -- those photos *are* copyrighted to hubby (who is a photographer).. if you want to use them, please ask first.
Wow Andrea, I'm very impressed! You should be working in a medical research lab here at the school of medicine! Seriously, thanks for this info. I have steered clear of any calcium PILL because I didn't want to have to crush them, so I've been taking the Viactiv calcium which is not the best kind but at least I could chew it. Now that I'm almost a year out, I can take pills again so I will definately try these when I run out of the Viactiv!
Thanks for sharing and tell DH, thanks for the great photography!! Alice
Thanks for sharing and tell DH, thanks for the great photography!! Alice
Alice in OneDerland
H:260 G: 135 C:145 L: 131 BMI: 26 H: 5' 2 1/2"
RNY 10/07 LBL 11/09
H:260 G: 135 C:145 L: 131 BMI: 26 H: 5' 2 1/2"
RNY 10/07 LBL 11/09
Thanks for doing that Andrea. As you have previously said, Calcium is vitally important for RNY and DS-ers. I have a friend that is 3 years post op and did "everything right" except take enough calcium and D3. She's losing her teeth because of this. It is very important.
I did some looking around after your last post when I realized I was taking carbonate, and found that GNC makes a chewable Calcium Citrate plus D3. I believe it's 500 mg per pill, but don't hold me to that. I've switched to it, thanks for giving me the heads up.
Take care.
Ellen
I did some looking around after your last post when I realized I was taking carbonate, and found that GNC makes a chewable Calcium Citrate plus D3. I believe it's 500 mg per pill, but don't hold me to that. I've switched to it, thanks for giving me the heads up.
Take care.
Ellen
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