Calcium... Carbonate or Citrate?

http://www.pamf.org/patients/CalciumHandout.html http://www.healthcastle.com/calciumcarbonate-calciumcitrate.shtml So many questions about calcium come up on the MAIN OH message board, I thought I would post this little tidbit here in the South of the Border page. Don't know about the rest of you, but I have no primary care physician who is "overseeing" this progress. Therefore, I depend heavily on OBESITYHELP.com to fill in the gaps... The link above takes you to the full article. The highlights? Calcium carbonate works best in an acidic environment... As we now have a smaller tummy, we have less stomach acid to help the carbonate form of calcium. Therefore, many people suggest calcium citrate. Calcium citrate works well on an empty or less acid stomach... which is more like what our tummies are now... (at least the first few months 0-18mnths) That means tums and viactive will work... but just not work very well. Calcium carbonate is best taken with meals to enhance absorption. Also... (and this often confuses me) one of the articles state that...." a supplement containing 500mg of Calcium Carbonate provides 200mg of elemental calcium." Elemental Calcium? What's that? (It is the amount available for absorption by your body.) While doing this research... I noticed that Calcium Carbonate (Provides 40% elemental calcium per tablet). It also may cause constipation or gas. Calcium carbonate, generally, is the cheapest form of calcium available. Some of the products that contain Calcium Carbonate are: # Alka-Mints # Caltrate # Rolaids # Titralac # Tums # Viactiv Personally, I take Viactiv. It isn't the BEST source of calcium, but it is consistent. Besides, I take it 'cause it is CHOCOLATE and is the only chocolate I get to have... so hummph! Anyway... Here are the links again... http://www.pamf.org/patients/CalciumHandout.html http://www.healthcastle.com/calciumcarbonate-calciumcitrate.shtml

Pat, you are so great! Thank you for sharing this info, it is so important for everyone who has had RNY to take their supplements! I have been taking a combo carbonate/citrate chewable from GNC since surgery. As soon as that is gone I want to take the new citrate chewable, but I forget if it's caltrate or citracal brand. Another suggestion for everyone is to not take your calcium with your multivitamin. The iron in a multivitamin competes with the calcium for absorption and your body can only absorb so much. They need to be spaced out at least one hour apart. Also, our bodies do not have the capicity to absorb more than 600mg of calcium at one time. So if you take 1200mg of calcium and think you are getting your daily dose in one swallow, you are wrong again. Fighting off osteoporosis is so important as we age! Thanks again Pat, you are teriffic, and doing extremely well, I bet you look great! Bonnie

YOU ARE AWSOME. YOUR WEALTH OF INFO IS MUCH APPRECIATED AND VERY USEFUL. THANK YOU. CINDY