Calcium absorption??????????

I am always reading on the main board that calcium can only be absorbed so much at one time. Today, it was stated that only 400 mg can be absorbed at once. I am not sure where this information comes from or if it is even accurate. I wrote Michelle at Vitalady.com a couple of weeks ago, asking her about a good schedule for taking vitamins. She sent back a schedule and I noticed on the calcium supplements that she recommends two 500mg capsules at a time, three times per day for a proximal GB patient. What do any of you think of this? Is there factual information out there to support how much we really absorb at one time? Your feedback is greatly appreciated!! Thanks, Dawn

Per my nut as WLS we need to take 1000 - 1500 mg of calcium citrate, it needs to broken out to approx. 400 mg at one time, at least 2 hours apart and at least 2 hours from your Iron. I take Bariatric Advantage vitamins, I take my iron & B-12 in the morning after breakfast, 2 hrs later a calcium (400 mg), multi-vit after lunch, 2 hours later another calcium (400 mg), multi-vit after dinner, 2 hrs later a calcium (400 mg). My multi-vits also have calcium in them so I hit my target each and every day. Hope this helps, Mary

My surgeon requires that we take at least 1,000 gms of calcium daily, split into 2 doses. He does not think it matters if we take calcium citrate or calcium carbonate and says he has read extensively and sees no proof that one is better than the other. We are not suppose to take the calcium at the same time we take our vitamin or eat a meal. I figured since we don't absorb everything I'd play it safe so I take 630 mg twice a day. I try to do calcium citrate at least once a day, the other dose I might do Tums or Viactin if the mood strikes. I do my calcium at approximately 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM which is far enough away from meal times that the iron in the meat does not interfere with absorbtion of the calcium. I recently had my bone density done and compared to the same type test done two years ago (before my surgery). My bone density had gone up since surgery, so what I'm doing is working for me. For my age (59) I am way ahead of the average and nowhere near bone loss problems. My vitamin/calcium schedule 1 vitamin with breakfast around 7AM 1 calcium (9:30-10:00 AM) 1 calcium (2:30 - 3:30 PM) 1 vitamin with dinner around 6-7 PM)

You might want to clarify with Michelle that she's talking about the 500mg capsules she sells. If so, those are only roughtly 120mg elemental and so you would need to take more at one time. The absorption limits (usually 500mg at one time) are talking elemental calcium. Most people don't bother to find that out. Unfortunately that means they are taking LESS calcium than they need. Daily requirements are for elemental calcium. Not all calcium pills are created equally. 500mg doesn't necessarily mean 500mg of elemental calcium. I've switched to only elemental (and some with D). I don't need to have to take any more pills that I have to. Everyone needs to do the research and know what they are taking. The manufacturer can tell you the elemental content in their calcium if it's not listed. Deb