Calcium question?????

So does any one know the answer to this calcium debate? Is it a waste for a person who had WLS to take the chewable calcium? I just read that calcium carbonate is wasted because it can not be absorbed in our stomachs. If any one knows the answer I would really like to know.

Hi Debbie: I had my surgery on 4/14/04 at St. Vincent's in cleveland. I went to a meeting there for those of us 4-6 mos post op, and that was one of the big topics discussed by both the nurse and nutritionist..I guess there is new evidence that we don't absorbe the calcium carbonate and we should be taking calcium citrate..I'm no expert, but this is what they said..Hope this helps... Jan

Debbie, You should take Calcium Citrate, not carbonate. I get my currently from www.vita4life.net. Hope this helps. Sandy

Sandy,I take tums.I cant get anything else down. Cindy

Hi Debbie - Just now catching up on the posts from the last few days. We discussed this in my Nutrition class at OSU last week. I haven't had wls yet, but this is my last step until meeting the DR. The Nutritionist said that the Calcium Carbonate is mostly absorbed by the body via gastric juices in the lower portion of the stomach and best absorbed when taken with food. It needs the extra juices to break down to be absorbed well. So with the surgery, the portion of the stomach that absorbs the majority of the Calcium Carbonate is bypassed. She said that the Calcium Citrate is much more readily absorbed within the intestine, doesn't need those extra digestive juices and is the only type of Calcium that wls patients should be taking. She also said that since those are not the chewable kind, some patients have dissolved the tablets in a small cup of water or juice to get it down. Hope that helps! Pam

Thank you very much for the great response. It was very helpful. I felt very unclear after talking to the nutrisionist. Your answer was right on to what I needed to know.

hi deb! that last answer was the most complete and understandable! i had done a great deal of reading about this topic pre op and was very disappointed when the btc nutritionist told me that i could get mine thru tums or those chewy candy things ( brain has left right now!!! viactive?)) so--i buy the citrate in a chewable-thru vitacost.com--they are twinlabs brand-HUGE!!!! recommended is 4 per day- i take two cuz i still get alot of my calcium in foods.... wish i had been at our mtg monday- i have a bottle down in my stuff to share- will still bring to next mtg- wow-deb!!! so good to see new pic!!! you look so much younger and this pic is so much more you!!!!! ( i tried to respond last nite but my comp just wouldn't cooperate- sorry!)

pam...thank you for the detailed response! it is an important issue for the rest of our lives and shouldn't be so tuff to get a straight answer! i am bookmarking your reply!

You are so very welcome! I'm glad that I can contribute I think we have probably all done so much research on wls. I love to read the messages on the various boards - I learn so much! Pam