Reminder about calcium

poet_kelly
on 1/5/12 1:03 am - OH

Just wanted to post a little reminder about calcium.  The ASMBS says we need 1500-2000 mg calcium per day and recommends calcium citrate.  The two most common kinds of calcium found in supplements are calcium citrate and calcium carbonate.  Tums, Viactiv and Caltrate are all calcium carbonate and we don’t absorb that well at all.  We absorb about 4% of the calcium in it so you’d need to take about 60 Viactivs every day to get enough calcium.  No, that’s not a typo.  Optisource also contains calcium carbonate and Bariatric Fusion has a mixture of calcium carbonate and calcium citrate.

Citracal and generic forms of Citracal contain calcium citrate, which is what we need.  It’s hard to find chewable calcium citrate in stores but Celebrate and Bariatric Advantage both make them and you can order online.  Upcal D, which is a powder you can mix in a drink, is also calcium citrate.  You can find liquid forms as well.

Tricalcium phosphate is another kind of calcium found in some supplements and it is also not absorbed well at all.  That’s what’s in Flintstones.  Wellesse, a liquid calcium supplement, contains a mixture of tricalcium phosphate and calcium citrate, so you’ll only absorb some of the calcium in there.  The new Citracal gummies also have tricalcium phosphate.

Make sure you take your calcium in doses of 500-600 mg and take them at least two hours apart.  Read the label carefully to see what the serving size is.  Like, Citrical petites have 400 mg per serving but a serving is TWO pills.

Take them two hours away from your iron.

View more of my photos at ObesityHelp.com          Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR.  If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor.  Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me.  If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her.    Check out my blog.

 

knowbetterdobetter
on 1/5/12 1:23 am - FL
RNY on 03/26/12
Kelly, have I told you lately that I love you!!
Thank you for posting this. It is extremely helpful.

Lisa
Kim S.
on 1/5/12 1:25 am - Helena, AL
Thanks for keeping us on our toes about our vits! 

It is important also to note that the "D" with the calcium may not be enough extra D as I learned....and am now fixing a declining D level....

Kim
             
     
poet_kelly
on 1/5/12 1:27 am - OH
I'd be surprised if the amount of D in our calcium was ever enough for a post op.  Most post ops seem to  need about 10,000 IU D3 a day in addition to what's in their calcium and multi.  Some need more.  A very few need less, about 5000 IU a day.  But I don't know anyone that gets enough D from their calcium.  And I look at lots of people's labs and talk to them about what vitamins they take.

View more of my photos at ObesityHelp.com          Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR.  If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor.  Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me.  If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her.    Check out my blog.

 

jennibaby1979
on 1/5/12 1:48 am - monticello, NY
ty so much for the helpful info.....i havent been taking calcium the way i should and i need it more as i had a spinal fussion a few months before my bypass
losing-jennifer
on 1/5/12 1:54 am
Kelly, where on the website do you find their recommendations? I'd like to bookmark them. Its good info to have.
Jen
HW 254  SW 242  CW 148
**Down 106 pounds from highest weight!**

poet_kelly
on 1/5/12 1:56 am - OH

View more of my photos at ObesityHelp.com          Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR.  If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor.  Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me.  If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her.    Check out my blog.

 

losing-jennifer
on 1/5/12 1:59 am
You are awesome!!!!  But of course I'll still rely on your informative posts too.  Those always seem to keep me on my toes!
Jen
HW 254  SW 242  CW 148
**Down 106 pounds from highest weight!**

Lisa S.
on 1/5/12 2:31 am - NV
VSG on 07/09/12
Thank you for that. I am having a tuff time with calcium. I HATE swallowing those huge horse pills. Any thoughts on coral calcium????

    


 


bowknot
on 1/5/12 2:52 am
I use the Bariatric Advantage chewy calcium.  It comes in cherry, lemon, chocolate, and caramel.  It is like a starburst or tootsie roll.  The calcium pills tend to make me nauseous.

Kay
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