Question:
Another Calcium question...What is

We'll get it right soon. What is *elemental calcium* ? Vitalady is probably more knowledgeable in this and coral calcium...I don't believe coral calcium is of any particular importance or should I say, have much bearing on "us" WLS'ers...I've heard coral calcium has something to do with sea animals...    — yourdivaness (posted on January 22, 2003)

February 24, 2003
I'd ask this question once before, just interested in finding out from someone exactly what elemental calcium was?
   — yourdivaness

February 24, 2003
Here's your chemistry lesson for the day!<p>Elemental calcium is pure calcium. Calcium does not exist on its own in nature. It is part of a "compound" (a group of two or more elements). Some common calcium compounds are calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, and calcium lactate. Sounding familiar yet? On to the next level . . .<p>Take for example calcium citrate (since that is the one we are supposed to use ;). The supplement may contain 1000 mg of calcium citrate per serving BUT because only a <i>part</i> of the calcium citrate compound is pure or "elemental" calcium, the calcium content is lower. If, for argument's sake, the percentage of calcium in calcium citrate is 50%, then that supplement containing 1000mg of calcium citrate contains 500mg of elemental calcium.<p>The problem comes in when a distributor of supplements deviates from the accepted way of indicating calcium content. The coral calcium shows some ridiculous amount of calcium in it, but it is showing the TOTAL milligrams for the COMPOUND. If I remember correctly, the elemental calcium is only 250mg per dose. You'd have to take four a day! Most supplements do list the elemental numbers. If they don't, I would be suspicious of the product. It seems awfully misleading.<p>Hope this helps! BTW, I have a degree in biology and have taken mucho chemistry (biochem, organic, etc.) so I am somewhat qualified to explain this. :P
   — ctyst