multi-vitamin w/ 500 mg calcium citrate?

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peggy_j
peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
edited June 2014 in Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment

Can anyone recommend a multi-vit with 500 mg of calcium citrate? Rumor has it that some multi-vitamins  for "mature women" have extra calcium but the ones I found either had less than 500 mg or it wasn't calcium citrate. thanks

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  • lbrewer
    lbrewer Member Posts: 766
    edited October 2011

    remember, it the elemental calcium that counts.  citrate is 20% calcium, carbonate is 40%.  So 500 mg of citrate is 100 mg of elemental calcium.  I buy storebrand (Publix) multivitamins with 400 mg of elemental.  Then 2 tums later in the day with 400 mg elemental each.  that makes my 1200 mg daily total.  take calcium with food as it is a large molecule and the acid from food helps to break it down for bodily use. 

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  • peggy_j
    peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
    edited October 2011

    Thanks lbrewer for all your comments (esp. taking w/ food. I think I knew that but forgot). Wow, this is confusing. I thought citrate was "better" than carbonate because it was absorbed more easily by the body. FWIW, when I've looked at a drugstore multi-vit for "mature women" (One-a-Day?) they listed their calcium as "elemental" but first ingredient in the list was calcium carbonate. Guess I need to learn more about this.

    FWIW, I met w/ a bone endo a couple weeks ago and he cautioned against taking too much calcium since it's not water soluable and can lead to kidney stones and other problems (some researchers think hardening of the arteries as well). I'd been taking supplements of 1200-1400 mg day (split up, cuz the body can't absorb that much as once). He said to not overlook the calcium from our diets. He reviewed my eating habits. Even though I rarely drink milk he said I'm still getting 700-800 mg/day from my diet so I should only take 500 mg as a supplement. FYI in case this is helpful (I posted other notes from that bone endo in the bone forum) 

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  • lbrewer
    lbrewer Member Posts: 766
    edited October 2011

    some people say citrate is easier on your stomach.   TUMS are actually one of the cheapest ways to get calcium.  Plus its already chewed up so its more easily digested.  One chewable is about 400 mg elemental. Its the elemental amount to use in determining how much to take.  Some supplements list it, other make you do the math...citrate is 20% and carbonate is 40%. 

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  • LtotheK
    LtotheK Member Posts: 2,095
    edited October 2011

    It's also a question of other vitamins to make it bioavailable, my colleague recommended the Life Force International brand.  The cool thing is, it will get a lot of the vitamins I'm taking down to one supplement (D, fish oil, calcium, magnesium).  I have also heard from many sources that calcium binds with grains, so it's best to take them with an hour on each end of breads and other grains.

    Basically, your whole day should be spent dosing yourself on this, that and the other, a drag indeed.Foot in mouth

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  • B123
    B123 Member Posts: 730
    edited November 2011

    I was thinking of upping my VItD 3 from 2000 to 5000IU to help prevent reoccurance but was worried if I did not take any caltrate for calcium.  Can you take the both or is that too much?  I read above that Tums was a good element of calcium and cheaper!  I think thats a great idea!!

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  • MariannaLaFrance
    MariannaLaFrance Member Posts: 777
    edited November 2011

    I am one of the unlucky few that has gotten kidney stones thanks to TUMS. My husband told me the last time I had one that it probably had the TUMS logo on it when it was surgically removed. Yes, you read that correctly. Surgically removed.

    I had horrible heartburn during my 2nd pregnancy and had to pop TUMS regularly. 8 weeks postpartum, I was in agony with a stone that wouldn't pass. It was horrific.

    I had my first kidney stone at age 18, after taking 1 Tums daily for about 6 months. 

     My nutritionist insists that Calcium Carbonate is not the way to take Calcium, but that Calcium Citrate is better. 

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  • peggy_j
    peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
    edited November 2011

    B123, when I reviewed my supplements with the bone endocrinologist he cautioned me about taking too much Vit D. He said right now there is no known toxicity getting 3000-4000 IU day, including from food/drink intake and the sun. He said some supplements on are the market are super mega doses (up to 10,000 UI) and those definitely be avoided. Maybe you can discuss your plans w/ your doc or nutritionist before changing?

    MairannaHB, sorry to hear about your kidney stones, yuck, and thanks for yet another opinion that Calcium Citrate is better.

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  • B123
    B123 Member Posts: 730
    edited November 2011

    MariannaHB, yes sorry about the stones, how horrible.. thats all you need on top of everything else! Thanks for the input though, that changed my mind fast.  I never had a problem with tums but never took it on a regular basis either.  Good to know about the Citrate too.

    peggy_j, thank you as well, I had a feeling higher doses were not always better.  So I will stick with my 2000IU Vit D3 and and pick up my Calcium CITRATE! :)  Also looking to pick up the Acai Berry vitamins, I hear they are very good for you and have been known to even reverse cancer???  

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