Question:
How often do we take the calcium?

How often can we take the calcium to be sure that it is being absorbed? I am taking a calcium citrate, not a carbonate. I am also concerned about taking it with conjunction to my other vitamins (iron, b12, prenatal, folic acid, and multi) and with food/drink. I have read, but don't have a full understanding of when to take and what NOT to take it with. My lastlabs showed that my calcium is very very low. I am currently 8 months pregnant, and both my surgeon and obgyn has advised me to take at least 2400mg a day. Thanks    — Andrea M. (posted on January 20, 2003)

January 20, 2003
Never take calcium with your multivitamin or iron - it inhibits absorption. Take your calcium citrate in 500 mg increments a couple of hours after your multivitamin and take it every couple of hours. Your body can only absorb about 500 mg at a time. In your case, you will want to take it 5 times to get your 2400 mg.
   — JoAnn B.

January 20, 2003
Yeah, what she said! LOL Well said, JoAnn.
   — ctyst

January 20, 2003
I've heard that we can't take iron and calcium together, but why can't a multivitamin be taken with calcium? Also, I've heard that we don't absorb more than 500 mg. per dose of calcium. If that's true, then this poor lady needs about five doses of calcium, alone, during the day (spaced a couple of hours apart), plus other supplements (iron, b-12, folic acide, and multi), spaced out from each other. Surely there must be a way to get all these supplements in without spending every waking hour doing so?
   — Suzy C.

January 20, 2003
Suzy, the only thing you can't take together is calcium and iron (usually in the multivit which is why they can't be taken together). The B12 can be taken with anything. And two hours between doses should be enough time for the previous dose to be thru the system. An example would be: Breakfast - 500 mg calcium and B12/ mid-morning snack - 500 mg calcium/lunch - multivit with iron/mid-afternoon snack - 500 mg calcium/dinner - 500 mg calcium/bedtime - 500 mg calcium. So basically just take the calcium every time you eat except at lunch, which would be the multivit. If extra iron is necessary, I'd guess you could take it with the multivit.<p>One question, tho: Why take both a prenatal AND a multivit? If you have to choose, I'd definitely keep the prenatal. It has better levels of everything.
   — ctyst

January 23, 2003
My surgeon also said that you should not take calcium after eating or drinking dairy products. I think you are suppose to wait 3-4 hours after eating dairy.
   — fropunka

January 23, 2003
I could be wrong, but I believe its IRON that cannot be taken with any dairy, not the calcium. I always take my calcium with dairy, or protein drink. Someone please tell me if I'm wrong. If so, I've wasted a lot of calcium.
   — Cheri M.