Question:
What kind of chewable calcium can I take?
I don;t really want to have to swallow any more pills. I would like a chewable calcium supplement. I have seen those chocolate one in the store and they look good. I was wondering about the sugar content. Do any of you take them? — Stacie B. (posted on August 25, 2003)
August 25, 2003
Hey Stacie - I know I'll probably get slammed for this, but YES, I take
Viactive in the carmel flavor. They're YUMMY! It's like getting a little
sweet treat twice a day. I've never had a problem with them. I'm 9 months
out from lap RNY and my labs are perfect. However, I do drink a least one
cup of milk per day, plus at least 2 ozs of chees per day. Good luck to
you.
— MissPriss
August 25, 2003
Those yummy ones are calcium CARBONATE (Viactiv, tums) and not citrate.
Citrate is more readily absorbed into our systems than carbonate. We don't
have enough stomach acid remaining to absorb the carbonate anymore. The
last poster who said that her labs were fine needs to have a baseline bone
scan and then have one a year later to see whether the calcium is being
absorbed into her bones-lab work will not tell you this, only a bone scan
will. I know too many in my support group who took the carbonate and 6
months later had developed the beginning signs of osteoporosis-not worth
the risk, people.
— Cindy R.
August 25, 2003
Back when I was having problems swallowing pills when is was a new post-op,
I used Sci-Fit's Chewable Calcium Wafers. About the size of a quarter
each, but at least I could use them to get my calium in. About 5 months
out, I switched to calcium citrate capsules that I get from
Vitaminshoppe.com
— Cathy S.
August 25, 2003
You may have a perfect level of calcium in your blood - but remember - it's
in your BLOOD, and not necessarily in your BONES, so be sure to take
calcuim citrate!
— koogy
August 25, 2003
"DITTO" Cindy
— Delores S.
August 25, 2003
I take chewable calcium citrate "wafers". They're made by
Twinlab. You might be able to get them at places like GNC. I order mine
off the Internet from myvitanet.com (I'm sure they're available on other
web sites, too). They have a kind of SweetTart taste, and are not chalky
like some other chewables, and are very protable--don't need water. I
agree with others to stay away from calcium carbonate. While the
carbonate/citrate question is one that is still being debated, the part
that seems to be debated is whether we have enough stomach acid to
adequately absorb calcium carbonate. There does not seem to be any
question that we do absorb calcium citrate. Since we know that citrate
works, why take a chance on the unknown carbonate, especially when there's
reason to beleive it is problematic? Your blood work for calcium will look
fine for a long while after you develop a calcium deficiency because the
calcium is being leeched out of your bones, so it still shows up OK in the
blood until you've used up all your stores. Most of that is not
replaceable. Don't take an unnecessary chance.
— Vespa R.
August 25, 2003
I too have been wanting badly to switch to viactiv. In view of the
controversy of carbonate vs. citrate I am taking citrate, just to be on
the safe side. I use the citrucal plus, contains vit d and other minerals
vital to bone production. I went for a bone scan a few weeks ago and so far
my bones are excellent, I will have a follow up in 1 year also. Like
another poster said, the calcium citrate isn't proven better, but I'll
continue to tke it til the whole story is in. I like my strong bones! sorry
I don't know any great cheWABLES. i JUST BREAK UP MY BIG HORSE PILLS.
— **willow**
August 25, 2003
Caltrate (Calcium Citrate) makes a chewable fruit flavored wafer. I eat
them as a snack. My doc recommends 3-5 per day. Best wishes -
— M B.
August 25, 2003
Maggie - just e-mailed you through your profile about this, but thought
that I would post it to the list. Caltrate is *not* calcium citrate. It
is calcium carbonate. There are a couple of good chewable calcium citrate
wafers out there - Twinlab and Solaray...JR
— John Rushton
August 26, 2003
My nutritionist recommends this website: www.bariatricadvantage.com
I also agree. They have a chocolate lozenge (or Mint) for the required
calcium (I take 6 a day). If you go to the website you can see the product
information.
I couldn't handle swalling the horse pills. The site also does volume
discounts. I get my B-12, Iron and also my chewable vitamin there as well.
I think the whole month supply for all of it was less than $50.00.
ENJOY! [email protected]
— Tanya H.
August 26, 2003
The nutritionist at my docs office recommended the Viactiv chews. I have
been taking them for the last couple of months and they are working great
for me. I take 3 per day, and it's like a candy treat. I couldn't deal with
6 Tums every day, and for the first month or so after my surgery, I wasn't
being very good about taking my calcium. Since I've started the Viactiv, I
haven't missed a day. I am very happy with my weight loss, I've lost about
71.5 pounds since my surgery on May 13th. Good luck!
— Ceil G.
August 26, 2003
<dorky_biologist>
<p>
Calcium is a vital part of the muscle contraction process. No Calcium, no
muscle contractions, no beating heart = dead. Will it happen in a years
time, no. But it is the ultimate result of a calcium deficiency.
<p>
If you do not give your body enough calcium, thru the most absorbable type
--> CITRATE, it will rob it from all those lovely bones. Your bloodwork
will continue to register a "good" level of calcium, however your
bones will look like a rice cake (and be about as strong). Get an annual
dexascan to monitor your bone density.
<p>
So if you take a non-absorbable type of calcium, you end up with
osteoporosis and you still get the muscle wasting as a lovely parting
gift.
<p>
Every single member of this site will swear up and down they had this
surgery to be "healthy", but then they will turn around and
ignore good, common-sense health advice. Keep eating your
"candy". In a couple of years, you'll be taking some drug to keep
your bones from breaking if you sneeze too hard.
</dorky_biologist>
— Ali M
August 29, 2003
Ok I am going to throw a wrench into this and ask why would BTC give us
Tums (a carbonate and not a citrate) as an example of how to get our daily
intake of calcium. Actually they also suggested the chews (saying that it
contains sugar but not enough probably to make us dump)
So why tell us these are acceptable (saying we need 1200 mg a day of
Calcium) if everyone else here is saying that they are not going to work.
Is the difference in the amount? What have some other doctors/surgeons
recommended for your needed calcium? I trust BTC fully and would not want
to think that this was the wrong info. Now I am pretty curious and would
really like to know the deal.
— MissieBird
August 29, 2003
there NO reliable research out there that shows that calcium carbonate is
preferable to citrate in absorption, It MIGHT be less absorbed but to say
none of it is absorbed is very questionable. that said I am choosing to
take calcium citrate and drink my milk every day (2-3 cups as per the post
op eating plan at BTC and any reliable dietition)
— **willow**
August 29, 2003
From the Dept. of Nutritiona at Kansas State Univ.:
<p>
(sic)Although calcium carbonate has the highest concentration of calcium by
weight, this form of calcium is relatively insoluble, especially at a
neutral pH. In contrast, calcium citrate, although containing about half as
much calcium by weight, is a more soluble form of calcium. Because calcium
citrate does not require gastric acid for absorption, it is a better choice
for patients with achlorhydria (i.e., limited gastric acid production).
<p>
We are people with limited gastric acid. It doesn't meet up with any
injested material until farther down the intestines. Doesn't give us much
time to break the carbonate down and absorb it. Citrate is more absorbable
at neutral pH. Our pouches are now closer to neutral pH. It makes sense to
use the citrate - even if it a "better safe than sorry"
scenario.
<p>
As for why BTC would still recommend carbonate? Who knows, maybe they think
its cheaper, more accessible and, hey something is better than nothing,
right? If you want to really know, ask them. Then ask Michelle Curran
(Vitalady) how good her and her husband did by taking carbonate for YEARS.
Then ask her what Rx she's taking to help with her osteoporosis.
<p>
I have never met her and only e-mailed her a couple of times, but she
spends a great deal of time here and on the Grad board trying to help us
out by sharing her experiences. I will trust the word of a non-M.D. like
her any day because she lives the surgery every single day of her life (and
has for 9 years). Most bariatric surgeons will never experience life as a
post op and have never put their own health on the line.
— Ali M
September 2, 2003
I just had my surgery on 08-29-03 and am not yet on any supplements, but I
did buy something from the internet based on suggestion from a friend that
is 2 years out. It's chewable calcium citrate and tastes like sweet tarts.
You can find it at www.rgarden.com
— margaret M.
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