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Calcium for bone support

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Posted 4/13/2014 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
With regards to OTC calcium supplements (and assuming inclusion of D3 and Magnesium is already a given), does anyone have thoughts regarding what forms of calcium seem to work better? Also, most calcium pills are like horse pills but the bulk of the ingredient list is binders and fillers (which I never understood....why they need to put all that extraneous gobbledygook in there to make a super-sized pill, if a smaller tablet,....or liquid form,....can provide good bioavailability without all the extra product).

My doc didn't seem to think there was any difference in the form of calcium, (provided, as I said, that I made sure to take it with D3 and magnesium for absorption),....but as I recall, not all calcium products are created equal.

So before I'm at a point where I'm looking at Rx meds,....I'd like to ask if anyone's got any suggestions or thoughts about various calcium products??

Thanks guys! :)






M.
Posted 4/14/2014 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
You also need a tiny bit of zinc (don't take too much, as it's easy to get toxic) and especially vitamin K. Easiest way to get K is from leafy greens.

There is no reason to take those horse pills.

Get your calcium level checked to see if you need it. I'm old, don't take calcium supplements, just a cup of milk a day, and my calcium level is fine.
Posted 4/14/2014 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
I have been told by my doctor to take calcium and Vitamin D, supplements, as I am osteopenic and I also have low Vit D levels. So I take Liquid filled Calcium 600 +D softgels twice a day, plus I take D3-1000iu twice a day.

I do not drink milk as it upsets my digestive system, and have been told to stay away from it. Other wise I would probably just do that instead of taking the pills. Just what ever works for you, talk with your doctor and see what he or she recommends.

White Beard
Posted 4/14/2014 7:12 AM (GMT 0)
I don't drink/eat dairy products, or eat ice cream, etc.

I did check with my doctor, and as I mentioned, she said in her opinion, all calcium "forms" are the same, it doesn't matter, just to take 2 calcium tablets per day plus vitamin D3 (which I'm low in so I've been taking 2,000iu for years as my blood work monitors these levels too), and to take it with magnesium.

The calcium horse pills I take (plus D3 and mag, of course), are as directed by my doctor,...but I'm confident I remember learning that different forms of calcium are absorbed more easily, and the molecular weight of various calciums affects how it permeates the barrier.

Until I get new dentures in July/August, I have difficulty eating several veggies, and even if I could eat them (and I love veggies so I do my best),....my onco did tell me to supplement with calcium.

She didn't have a preference, suggesting all were equal, which is why I thought I'd post here to see if anyone else taking OTC calcium had any thoughts on this topic or suggestions.

Thanks again! :)






M.
Posted 4/14/2014 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Merrida I personally like the liquid filled softgels, they are still big but I find them easier to swallow than the regular hard tablet. ( I think they slide down easier, because of there soft smooth surface)

White Beard
Posted 4/14/2014 6:28 PM (GMT 0)
I was also curious about the "form" of calcium in terms of bioavailability.

Calcium carbonate, (like in TUMS), calcium citrate, oyster shell calcium,....etc.

Time of day? Divided dose?

I take with D3 and magnesium, but should that be divided as well?

My doc had no input on those questions I posed above (as I did ask her immediately when she told me I would need to supplement my diet thusly).






M.
Posted 4/14/2014 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
I take 4 Citrical petites daily--2 in am and 2 in pm. I have also started Prolia infusions every 6 mos.
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