Types of Calcium Supplements

What Type of Calcium Supplement Should You Be Taking?

Most calcium supplements, if the right dose is taken, are adequate for our daily requirements. There are a few general factors that affect the absorption of calcium supplements.

The first factor is the time taken for the supplements to disintegrate in the gastro-intestinal tract. If the supplement is not properly disintegrated, absorption will be lowered.

Secondly, there are different grades of calcium and inactive ingredients that go into the making of a supplement.

Pharmaceutical grade ingredients make for better quality products. Generally, the premium brands use better raw materials and have better controlled manufacturing processes to ensure proper supplement disintegration.

Caltrate is the brand name of a calcium supplement. Many supplements contain calcium carbonate as their principal ingredient. To improve absorption of calcium carbonate, calcium is usually taken with food.

You can also take calcium carbonate in divided doses, instead of one single large dose to allow for better absorption.

Calcium carbonate is commonly used because it is readily available and inexpensive.

Calcium L-threonate and calcium L-aspartate are other calcium compounds used in some of the latest calcium supplements. They are chelated calcium which helps to improve absorption.

Some studies suggest that the absorption of calcium from milk does not differ too greatly from the other calcium salts.

Remember that adequate vitamin D is neccessary for the absorption of calcium.