Question:
My doctor said Caltrate for my calcium ,Ingredients say calcium carbonate
I have read many different posts about calcium supplements,and now I'm confused . My doctor told me to get Caltrate 600 + Vit.D chewables. I thought we should be taking citrate but the calcium in this says carbonate. Any input would be apreciated. — Connie Z. (posted on January 10, 2002)
January 10, 2002
I just saw my nutritionist on Tuesday and she told me I had to either start
taking the Citracal(calcium citrate with vitamin D) I had bought a while
ago which is sitting in my medicine cabinet, or get Calcium Citrate
chewables. I haven't been very good about taking Calcium because the
Citracal pills are so big and hard to break in half. I went yesterday and
bought the Chewables,(the brand is TwinLab) and they are great. You have to
chew 4 of them per day, but they aren't bad tasting and they have Vitamin D
in them as well. I was told emphatically right from the beginning that it
has to be Calcium Citrate. We will not absorb the carbonate. I found the
TwinLab chewables at a health food store, but my nutritionist said that
most GNC's should carry it. Good luck!
— Vicki K.
January 10, 2002
I know that both calcium citrate and calcium carbonate are a good source of
calcuim. The thing about calcium carbonate is that if you take too much, or
do not drink enough water you can form kidney stones. I got a kidney stone
when I was eating 4-8 tums a day for my heartburn. I didn't know any
better- they should put a warning on the label! Like Cautioin: May Cause
Kidney Stones. This is the only reason I know I will only take calcium
citrate in the future.
— Jennifer Y.
January 10, 2002
When I was full sized, I was in doc offices a lot more than I'd like to
have been. One thing I noticed is that docs recommend what the reps tell
them. They do not rearch each & every product--they CAN'T! He can
recommend something without having the label memorized OR casting it in
stone. Like my recommending adding some shredded carrot to beans (while
cooking) to cut the gas. It's only a recommendation. Citrate, and AT ELAST
1500mg per day. So if you use the Twin chews, you'd need at least 6 per
day, ideally 8 per day to be covered as well as possible, but only 500mg at
one time.
— vitalady
January 10, 2002
I take the Caltrate 600 plus chewables, I realy like them. they taste
like giant "smarties"!
— Cindee A.
January 10, 2002
I have found that a lot of doctors know the surgery but are somewhat
"fuzzier" on the nutrition post-op. Calcium carbonate isn't going
to help you. You need calcium citrate. (One previous poster liked a
particular form of chewable calcium carbonate, I think, that tasted like
Smartees: Twin Labs chewable calcium citrate also taste like those!) You
can try Citracal which you also can get with Vitamin D. I just ordered a
calcium supplement from Vitalady.com; they really know their stuff there.
In any case, stay away from the calcium carbonate. It's sad, but true (I
was so bummed preop when I realized that those wonderful chocolate-flavored
Viactivs weren't going to do it for me!)Good luck!
— Mary Ellen W.
January 10, 2002
Citracal makes a calcium citrate 600 + vitamin D AND a calcium carbonate
600 + vitamin D... you just have to make sure you buy the right one at the
store. Good luck!
— Julia M.
January 13, 2002
My doc has me on 2 Tums a day for Calcium.
— Amy G.
April 3, 2003
I tried Caltrate and I tried Tums, they were both to chalky to me. I now
take 2 Viactiv Chews a day. They taste and work great.
— Deb T.
April 3, 2003
For Deb, I'd like to know how you know that they 'work great'. Have you
had a bone density scan? If not (and this is true for everyone) make sure
you get one as soon as possible and then get one every year after. That is
the ONLY way to know if you are getting enough calcium. The calcium levels
in your blood don't really provide a good indication, as your body will
leach the calcium out of your bones and get it into your blood. So, the
calcium in your blood could be fine, but your bones could be deteriorating.
— garw
April 3, 2003
For Deb, I'd like to know how you know that they 'work great'. Have you
had a bone density scan? If not (and this is true for everyone) make sure
you get one as soon as possible and then get one every year after. That is
the ONLY way to know if you are getting enough calcium. The calcium levels
in your blood don't really provide a good indication, as your body will
leach the calcium out of your bones and get it into your blood. So, the
calcium in your blood could be fine, but your bones could be deteriorating.
— garw
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