# Calcium supplements **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 21, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949 "2003-04-21T01:14:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949/1 "2003-04-21T01:14:34Z")
I take calcium supplements along with a multi-vitamin every day. Went to the pharmacy yesterday to buy more calcium and noticed the brand I bought before costs about US $10 for 60 tablets of 600 mg Calcium Carbonate along with Vitamin D. Then I noticed that I can get Tums E-X with 750 mg of Calcium Carbonate for about US two bucks. I already get the vitamin D in foods I eat and in the multi-vitamin. So is there any difference I should know about? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949/2 "2003-04-21T01:18:32Z")
Calcium is calcium. Shouldn’t be any negative side effects, except that tums might have stomach antacid. So it might not be safe to take EVERYday. but i’ll wait for quadap to come. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949/3 "2003-04-21T01:28:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Harmonix \* > \*\*Calcium is calcium. > \*\* Can’t argue with that, but some calcium is more readily absorbed by the body. Calcium carbonate is the form recommended for the most absorption. And calcium carbonate is calcium carbonate. ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949/4 "2003-04-21T01:32:48Z")
Thank you, Barbitu8, I wondered if I was missing something. Re. your sig, how come when I attempt the absurd, I generally achieve the ridiculous? ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949/5 "2003-04-21T01:34:05Z")
[Dr. Mirken](http://www.drmirkin.com/nutrition/7585.html) mentions Tums, but without further comment. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949/6 "2003-04-21T02:35:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JillGat \* > \*\* how come when I attempt the absurd, I generally achieve the ridiculous? \*\* Because it’s such a fine line between the ridiculous and the sublime, Jill! Calcium citrate is actually better absorbed than calcium carbonate (2.5 times more bioavailable), but is also more expensive. Tums should work just fine as a cheaper source of calcium carbonate. Just watch the cornstarch and sugar load in it. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949/7 "2003-04-21T03:00:32Z")
Calcium carbonate is somewhat less well absorbed by the elderly, because they produce less stomach acid to break it down. The simple advice there is to take it with meals. Beyond that, actual studies of the bioavailability of various types of calcium in the general population are rare and contradictory. One study shows that variations in absorption ability among individuals is more important than variations between types. Tums advertises itself as a cheap source of calcium. For once, advertising is probably true. Note: take the purest form of Tums available, not antacid/anti-gas blends with simethicone, e.g. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949/8 "2003-04-21T04:41:46Z")
Many Canadian internists prescribe TUMS as a cheap calcium source. I’m not sure what the implications of too much cornstarch is, but I agree (as always) with Qadcop about the sugar load. ---
**Author:** ![UWmite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UWmite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UWmite)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949/9 "2003-04-21T06:11:33Z")
I’d also look into the big bottles of generic calcium carbonate. I get mine at Target. They aren’t mixed with vitamin D or any of the other things calcium usually gets mixed with, but they’re dirt cheap. My 500 count bottle (600 mg pills) was less than 10 bucks, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949/10 "2003-04-21T12:47:29Z")
Crayola Chalk is also made of calcium carbonate and is even cheaper. I’ve often wondered if you could pound it to dust and stir it into some food to get calcium. ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949/11 "2003-04-22T02:22:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UWmite \* > \*\*I’d also look into the big bottles of generic calcium carbonate. I get mine at Target. They aren’t mixed with vitamin D or any of the other things calcium usually gets mixed with, but they’re dirt cheap. My 500 count bottle (600 mg pills) was less than 10 bucks, I think. \*\* Want to send me some? I don’t live in the US, so we have a limited selection, and what is imported is very expensive. And we ain’t got no Targets in Trinidad. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949/12 "2003-04-22T07:02:14Z")
Just thought I would say Viactive is the worst tasting substance known to man. Tastes like, well, it tastes like Viactive. My father is a vitamin obssessed freak and we have various vitamins and supplements everywhere. One day a box of Viactive chocolate flavored calcium chews appeared on the counder. My girlfriend and I dared eachother to eat one, and it was an experience we both regret. ---
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949/13 "2003-04-22T08:06:20Z")
Isn’t generic calcium carbonate the generic of Tums? It’s right by it at the drugstore. my generic says “compare to Tums active ingredient!!” And I have, and it’s the same. So it’s the same stuff, but much cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949/14 "2003-04-22T15:42:43Z")
TUMS or knock-off would do the trick. I wouldn’t be that concerned about the sugar and cornstarch load in a tablet that weighs a couple grams. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949/15 "2003-04-22T17:12:37Z")
What`s the hype with this “coral calcium” stuff? How is it different, if it is? ---
**Author:** ![prisoner6655321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@prisoner6655321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prisoner6655321)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949/16 "2003-04-22T17:34:08Z")
What happens to the calcium that is NOT absorbed? Does it have a chance to build up in the kidneys? I really don’t know much about this, but I do know that too much protein inhibits calcium absorbtion, so if you are taking too much protein, no matter how much calcium supplementation you take your body will reach a certain baseline level and stop absorbing and excrete the excess calcium. At least that is my understanding. It seems to me that if the unabsorbed calcium leaves the body throught the urine then it could build up and form kidney stones or something similar. Am I totally off? This leads me to my opinion that rather than take calcium supplements, people should be concentrating on keeping their protein level in check. American’s tyically ingest WAAY too much protein. ---
**Author:** ![prisoner6655321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@prisoner6655321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prisoner6655321)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949/17 "2003-04-22T17:49:16Z")
What happens to the calcium that is NOT absorbed? Does it have a chance to build up in the kidneys? I really don’t know much about this, but I do know that too much protein inhibits calcium absorbtion, so if you are taking too much protein, no matter how much calcium supplementation you take your body will reach a certain baseline level and stop absorbing and excrete the excess calcium. At least that is my understanding. It seems to me that if the unabsorbed calcium leaves the body throught the urine then it could build up and form kidney stones or something similar. Am I totally off? This leads me to my opinion that rather than take calcium supplements, people should be concentrating on keeping their protein level in check. American’s tyically ingest WAAY too much protein. ---
**Author:** ![Fuel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fuel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuel)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949/18 "2003-04-22T19:05:41Z")
I remember hearing on several occasions that calcium is absorbed much better while sleeping. Just a heads-up. Another heads-up: If you eat a couple handfuls of raw or juiced spinach every night, unless you are unhealthy in some way or have an exceptionally crappy diet, you will never have to worry about calcium deficiency ever. Talk about bioavailability… No cites for these by the way, just advice. ---
**Author:** ![Fuel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fuel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuel)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949/19 "2003-04-22T19:11:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by prisoner6655321 \* > \*\*What happens to the calcium that is NOT absorbed? Does it have a chance to build up in the kidneys? I really don’t know much about this, but I do know that too much protein inhibits calcium absorbtion, so if you are taking too much protein, no matter how much calcium supplementation you take your body will reach a certain baseline level and stop absorbing and excrete the excess calcium. At least that is my understanding. It seems to me that if the unabsorbed calcium leaves the body throught the urine then it could build up and form kidney stones or something similar. Am I totally off? > > This leads me to my opinion that rather than take calcium supplements, people should be concentrating on keeping their protein level in check. American’s tyically ingest WAAY too much protein. \*\* I have researched this before, but don’t specifically remember the end conclusion I made. All i remember is thinking that the 150 grams of protein i was eating, along with the minimum 1 gallon of pure water i was drinking and very healthy balanced diet i was eating, and the weightlifting and exercise i was getting, that I was okay. It would be nice to know the 'Dope on this. Maybe i’ll research this again. It is true excess protein hurts calcium absorption, I just can’t remember under what circumstances this was true. ---
**Author:** ![In\_Conceivable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@In\_Conceivable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Conceivable)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949/20 "2003-04-22T20:00:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fuel \* > \*\*Another heads-up: If you eat a couple handfuls of raw or juiced spinach every night, unless you are unhealthy in some way or have an exceptionally crappy diet, you will never have to worry about calcium deficiency ever. \*\* How do you figure a couple of handfuls of raw spinach is enough calcium? One cup of raw spinach is only about 30mg of calcium. Other greens (like Kale) contain much more calcium (90mg for Kale). [http://yarrow.best.vwh.net/Usda\_data/foods.cgi?food\_num=11457&state\_num=2&food\_des\_size=60](http://yarrow.best.vwh.net/Usda_data/foods.cgi?food_num=11457&state_num=2&food_des_size=60) [http://yarrow.best.vwh.net/Usda\_data/foods.cgi?food\_num=11233&state\_num=2&food\_des\_size=60](http://yarrow.best.vwh.net/Usda_data/foods.cgi?food_num=11233&state_num=2&food_des_size=60) In addition it appears that the calcium in spinach is not very absorbable. (only about 5% compared to 50-70% for Kale.) [http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/columnha/ha0206.html](http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/columnha/ha0206.html) Sorry I have never been able to figure out how to do the short links… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calcium-supplements/169949.md?page=2)