Are you sure you're getting all the calcium you think you are? - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Corrine · 06-24-2008, 06:18 PM

We all know that we should be taking calcium citrate and not carbonate, right?

This has probably been posted before but with all the newbies, it's definately worth mentioning again.

Did you know that the amount of calcium citrate shown on the label isn't necessarily the amount of elemental calcium you think you're getting. And more to the point, it isn't the amount you need for bone health.

If the label says (and I use 500mg as an example):

Quote:

"500mg calcium as calcium citrate" - you get 500mg elemental calcium.

"500mg calcium from calcium citrate" - you get 500 mg elemental calcium.

"500mg calcium (calcium citrate)" - you get 500mg elemental calcium.

"500mg calcium citrate" - you get about 125 elemental calcium.

"500mg calcium" - who knows! Chuck it away.

Squishy · 06-24-2008, 06:32 PM

Oh!! I can add to this one...

We buy Calcium Citrate that is labeled as 600 MG. We're supposed to take 1200 MG a day, so we have been taking two a day. We're good...right? Wrong!

Jane noticed a little while back when reading the label that the serving size is 2 pills! That means that the pills are only 300 MG each, so we need to take 4 to get the 1200 requirement.

I've never seen a vitamin labeled this way before and we did not notice it for almost a year.

-Mike-

MiladyB · 06-24-2008, 11:14 PM

Corrine, I've posted this same information before but it is something that is worth repeating. It actually should be made a sticky. I don't think most people are aware of the difference of the labels and how 500mg Calcium Citrate isn't actually 500mg Elemental Calcium Citrate. Why do they have to make is so hard to understand? It really is kinda frustrating!!

Thank you for re-educating us. You are such a wonderful resource when it comes to vitamins.

Now to get John to make this a sticky!

Duckie · 06-25-2008, 08:11 AM

For the 2nd time in a year I have been found to be Vitamin D deficient and have to take a HUGE pill once a week or 6 months.

Make sure your surgeons are testing for this with your other labs. You need the Vit. D to absorb that calcium!!

Corrine · 06-25-2008, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duckie

For the 2nd time in a year I have been found to be Vitamin D deficient and have to take a HUGE pill once a week or 6 months.

Make sure your surgeons are testing for this with your other labs. You need the Vit. D to absorb that calcium!!

AND IT SHOULD BE VITAMIN D3 (cholecalciferol)!

Duckie - I had the same problem.

The prescription for 50,000IU Vitamin D turned out to be D2 (ergocalciferol) and not the dry form D3 (cholecalciferol) - this is worth reading from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition The case against ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) as a vitamin supplement -- Houghton and Vieth 84 (4): 694 -- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition "vitamin D2, or ergocalciferol, should not be regarded as a nutrient suitable for supplementation or fortification."

And this is short and sweet from Bariatric Advantage:

Quote:

How is D3 different from D2?

Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is differenet from vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). D2 is the most common commercial form because it can be readily prepared from plant materials that contain the compound ergosterol. Vitamin D3, cholecalciferol, is the form that animals (including humans) synthesize from cholesterol, and is considered to be the natural form of the vitamin. D3 is estimated to be 3 times more potent than vitamin D2

You can get 50,000IU D3 (dry form) online - the cheapest I've come across is from vitalady.com - $22.55/100 caps (they're tiny).

Duckie · 06-25-2008, 03:42 PM

THanks for the info!!

AToM · 06-25-2008, 09:10 PM

I'm not sure I see the difference in line 3 and line 4 - (other than what I assume is 375mg difference)

Corrine - I'm sure you've answered this several times before - but what brand of Ca do you take?

Corrine · 06-25-2008, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AToM

I'm not sure I see the difference in line 3 and line 4 - (other than what I assume is 375mg difference)

Corrine - I'm sure you've answered this several times before - but what brand of Ca do you take?

3. calcium (calcium citrate)
4. calcium citrate

Basically, if it just says "XXmg calcium citrate" then you're getting calcium salts too and that makes up approximately 75% of your dose, the other 25% being elemental calcium that we need. In a nutshell, you have to take 4 times as much.

What calcium citrate do I use? - the cheapest as long as I get all the elemental calcium I need in one dose.

I'm far enough out to use tablets. These are usually the most costs effective and even though they're pretty big, if you can't swallow them as is (or cut in half), they're soft enough to chew up a bit and wash them down with a bit of water. They're just a little chalky.

If you're still a little confused, go for Citracal (all the range comes with the necessary vitamin D3 too).

princesse · 06-26-2008, 02:39 AM

ok...am i goona catch flak for this?
I take calcium carbonate. I KNOW it requires acid to absorb so I chew it up with orange juce. Above that, I drink between 3/4- 1 liter (3/4-1 qt) milk a day.
My dietician says this is ok.
Anyone have some feedback on this?
Princesse

Corrine · 06-26-2008, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by princesse

ok...am i goona catch flak for this?
I take calcium carbonate. I KNOW it requires acid to absorb so I chew it up with orange juce. Above that, I drink between 3/4- 1 liter (3/4-1 qt) milk a day.
My dietician says this is ok.
Anyone have some feedback on this?
Princesse

Princess,

It's doubtful that citric acid in orange juice can come anywhere near to performing the function that hydrochloric acid in the stomach would.

Bloodwork merely measures the amount of calcium in your blood and your blood does a really good job of taking calcium from your bones as and when it needs it. Although we think of calcium in terms of bones and teeth, we also need it for our muscles, blood clotting, nerve transmission, cell membrane maintenance etc. etc.

Anyways, he only accurate way of determining that you have sufficient calcium stores is to have a densitometry or DEXA scan done on a regular basis. And unless you're doing that, there is no way of knowing whether your intake of calcium cabonate (and milk) is sufficient for your needs.

Calcium in your bones is like a savings bank and your blood is constantly making withdrawals. If you're not depositing enough to keep the calcium levels up in your bones, ultimately you're going to be overdrawn and that could lead to osteoporosis. And the worst is, you won't know that's happening until it's too late.

What form of calcium you take is your choice but at 42, now might be the time to do some serious research into this.