which calcium is best?

linapril · July 2007

Calcium is so very important, and confusing. After reading many postings along with other sites I still wonder which is the very best to take for us on Arimidex and other AIs: calcium phosphate or calcium citrate or calcium formate? Evidence watch has information at http://home.earthlink.net/~ckane/osteonews.htm#Calcium but I still dont know which is best for postmenopausal women on Arimidex. I admit that I may be missing something that is already stated clearly somewhere, but my current state of mind is that Im still trying to form my opinion on what is the best calcium supplement.

What are your opinions?

And how is a person to tell how much elemental calcium is in a supplement or does it depend on which type of calcium you are taking? Ive purchased bottles that tell, but many dont say.

Other things Ive read about calcium:
If you take synthroid, space 4 hours between taking it and calcium supplements
Take your calcium in 3 divided does to equal about 1500 mg / day of elemental calcium.
Also take 800 mcg Vit D3 and 750 mg of magnesium (citrate, glycinate, or oxide salts is acceptable, as well as any chelated form) a day to aid the calcium.
But take the magnesium at a separate time than calcium.
Vitamin C taken at the same time as calcium is good.
phosphorus may be as critical as calcium for bone health.
vitamin K is needed so calcium in the blood does not bind to the arterial wall resulting in calcification,
It is best to take with meals.
Foods high in the amino acid lysine are good for absorption, like eggs, fish and lima beans.
Culprits either interfering with optimal calcium absorption or excessive loss of calcium are:
Sodas, meats, alcohol, caffeine and white flour.
And foods with oxalic acid interferes with calcium absorption so should be eaten in moderation such as almonds, beet greens, cashews, chard, kale, rhubarb and spinach. Also wheat bran should be limited for optimal calcium absorption.
It should have USP written on the label indicating that it meets the U.S. Pharmaceuticals standards for breakdown of the calcium supplement.
Calcium from food could be better for us than supplements.
Calcium carbonate does not absorb as well as the other calcium types.
Antacids are not a good source of calcium because they neutralize stomach acid, and calcium needs the acid in order to be properly absorbed. Aluminum containing antacids may cause increased calcium excretion.

Any other things to keep in mind to optimize our calcium efforts?

BlindedByScience · July 2007

I think if you keep all those things in mind, you're working miracles.

If you have low to normal stomach acid, I'd suggest calcium citrate. It doesn't require extra acid to break it down and can be taken with or without food.

If you have reflux problems or otherwise suffer from high stomach acid, take calcium carbonate after a meal or with orange juice.

Skip coral calcium and any brand that doesn't list elemental calcium.

Vitamin K is important for many reasons, but if you're on a blood-thinner like coumadin, your doctor should be consulted.

Yes, you need phosphorus (is it in your multivitamin?) and also potassium. Some docs recommend strontium at half the dose of calcium, taken several hours apart from the calcium.

Calcium can mess with multiple drugs besides synthroid: some antibiotics and bisphosphonates, too. http://www.cncahealth.com/health-notes.htm?ContentID=3138006

Milk and milk products are promoted endlessly as our best source of calcium. The Dairy Council is very effective. Consider some other sources of dietary calcium that won't come with growth factors and hormones:

http://www.bchealthguide.org/healthfiles/hfile68e.stm

Rosemary44 · July 2007

Linda,

You really thought of everything. About the foods with oxalic acid, the list of them is much longer and mostly everything I eat.

The strange part of it, one I don't understand, some of those foods on the list are good sources of calcium (cooked spinach and others), yet they contain oxalic acid. Is mother nature stepping in to offset the damage?

http://www.cloudnet.com/~djeans/Asides/OxalicAcid.htm

linapril · July 2007

BBS,
This is good additional information. The best food intake for calcium I can keep up with is the yogurt. some items on this list don't sound appetizing at all.

I thought calcium carbonate wasn't easy to absorb. I sometimes suffer from acid reflux, but not too much since I've been on a better diet since dx last year, even though I'm not taking any prescriptions for it any longer.

linapril · July 2007

Rosemary,
This is definetly what I term a good food list, it contains fun foods, chocolate, cocoa, coffee, berries, nuts. .. yum.

Probably the foods with both calcium and oxalic acid, like the cooked spinach are balanced and the foods we really should be eating most.

Does anyone have an opinion about calcium formate?

Rosemary44 · July 2007

Linda,

I did read somewhere that calcium from plants are not as absorbable. Could be the oxalic acid in them. All of those foods are darn healthy to eat, but I should be planning the design of my wheelchair, I guess. Something snappy with decals.

Where did you hear about calcium formate? I found this:

http://www.chance-hunt.com/nutrition/feedproductssubcats/preservatives_subs/calciumformate.html

Anonymous · July 2007

I've always read it is best to take the two doses of calcium about 12 hours apart for better absorption, so I take mine at breakfast then at bedtime. (each one 600 mg calcium with 400 mg of Vit.D--studies have come out recently that show the Vit. D to be a really important part of taking calcium--good against not only osteoporosis, but also bc and colon ca as well.

linapril · July 2007

Rosemary,

On Edge's Evidence Watch site, the link is in the first post, its partially stated "four-way crossover study using either a placebo or 1200 mg of calcium as calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, or calcium formate: calcium formate was significantly superior to both calcium carbonate and calcium citrate in ability to deliver calcium to the bloodstream after oral administration. Calcium formate may offer significant advantages as a dietary calcium supplement"

But this is only a couple of sentences. I was hoping was to come across a big, clear statement somewhere of which calcium type is absolutely better to take.

BBS, as you say, stomach acidity is a factor, and of course the other needed nutrients come into play so my wish is not realistic.

Regarding phosphorus, I started looking through all my supplements and was surprised none contain it. My next self-assignment is to go to the thread on list of supplements everyone takes and see what might be a good multivitamin to switch to that contains phosphorus.

Awb, I have recently learned how important Vit D is also and found I was deficient so now that is in my vitamin & mineral arsenal.

Rosemary44 · July 2007

Linda,

I can't speak for calcium formate, but as to phosphorus we'd almost have to give up eating not to get enough of it through everyday food sources:

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/SR18/nutrlist/sr18w305.pdf

I use calcium citrate liquid, it's easy to take. It's the other ingredients that they pair up with calcium that is always lacking. Either it doesn't have enough D, or the wrong D, or the wrong kind of magnesium. Supposedly, the liquid type is easily absorbed, though I've read no research on it myself.

A couple of things you didn't list. Potassium, 4.6 grams a day aids in bone health. Good luck with eating that much, and low dose B6 helps with magnesium absorption.

There's just not enough time in the day for all of this.

Anonymous · July 2007

Lord have mercy! More stuff to worry about? I guess I'll take my chances and eat spinach if I want or almonds or peanuts.

You're right, Rosemary, there's NOT enough time in a day for all this and hardly enough time to take the supplements I do take. Geez! And THEY DO cost money. LOL
Shirley

linapril · July 2007

Upon reading more about phosphorus maybe I don't need to fret immediately about getting enough , I do eat cottage cheese and a some other of these items.

I'm glad you all agree this is an awful much to keep up with - glad to know I'm not being dense. But I do plan to do my very best to adhere and review what seems to be the ideal ways to take and absorb the calcium. It doesn't seem to make sense in spending the time, money, and most of all, hope, for calcium to aid in our health concerns, unless we know were doing the best we can to have it work for us.

sunshineonme · July 2007

I'm adding one more important item to this gathering of calcium suggestions and it is exercise because I think I read it helps the calcium to "do it's thing" and of course it's good for bones. Especially weight bearing exercies.

abbadoodles · July 2007

t

Rosemary44 · July 2007

No it's not necessary to take a supplement if your getting 1500 mgs daily by foods. We shouldn't go over 2500 mgs daily. It can cause other problems that we don't want. I don't know how much magnesium is in the foods you eat, but if it's not enough it might be good to supplement some, and of course vitamin D3.

Calico · July 2007

Rosemary,
you mentioned Potassium...quick question, I am confused...
My check up showed an elevated Potassium at 5.5 for the first time..
I do take D, Calcium, Magnesium among all the normal stuff...I had an abnormal EKG 2 years ago with a normal stress ekg to follow....really slow heart beat 48 bpm and palpitations....they wrote it off as "I am athletic" haha...I walk every day and sometimes jog down hill....

Anyways...googeling Potassium, I found out it could be heart problems like heart block and renal failure....
I am not sure if it would be good to supplement this, after reading this ....nevertheless, I am confused and just have the test repeated...

Anybody know what could cause the Potassium to go up? interaction with something else??

God Bless

Rosemary44 · July 2007

Calico,

No, I wouldn't supplement potassium. From what I read about it, a lot of us don't get enough in our diet, and it helps with bone health. Instead of supplementing I would just try to up the foods that are high in it, orange juice, bananas. For myself, I believe in foods over pills if possible.

They seem to have written you off about your heart palps. Don't let them do it. There's a specialist, beyond a cardiologist, and right now I can't remember the specialty name, (I'll look for it) but I'd consult with that type of specialist. Have they sent you home with a heart monitor to see what's happening during your day?

Electrophysiology is the specialty. In your case, I wouldn't be eating foods high in potassium. You should get this checked out further. Sometimes the labs give false readings, I've had that happen a couple of times already, did they send you back to get your potassium level retested? The normal range is 3.7 to 5.2 mEq/L so it looks like your just slightly elevated, so maybe a retest is in order.

Here's a site that talks of drugs that interact with potassium levels.

http://home.caregroup.org/clinical/altmed/interactions/Nutrients/Potassium.htm

Calico · July 2007

Thanks Rosemary,
I had a monitor years ago before Thyroid radio active treatment (thyroid is now normal) and it showed a few extras, I think it was in 2001.
It really was up again around bc diagnosis with slow heart rate and funky EKG.
I just go in and have it retested hopefully this week and will inquire about a referal.
My muga before chemo was okay so I thought "oh well" good heart..
Onc thought the blood may have been sitting around for hours but on the lab slip it shows when it was drawn and evaluated which was about half an hour difference.
The medication list shows heparin, I don't take it but fish oil and co10 will thin blood as well...maybe it's the supplements...
Golleeee....

Appreciate your help

God Bless

Rosemary44 · July 2007

Calico,

I found you this article on palpitations. I hope you find it useful.

http://www.healthyroads.com/mylibrary/data/altcaredex/htm/amm0087.asp

I heard about hawthorn and taurine before for palps. Taurine is in baby formula so how bad could that be, but I know nothing about hawthorn. Normally, if your potassium wasn't up there, the best recommendation I've read is to drink pom juice, if your not on tamox. You would start with 8ozs in the morn, and another 8 at dinner. If you feel relief, you can lower that to 4 & 4 for maintenence.

It's best to let a Dr. check you out first. Then you can think about alternatives.

Rosemary44 · July 2007

I knew it! The minute I said pom juice, I'd regret it. Seemingly, it interacts with too many meds. I hate giving it up, but I have to.

BlindedByScience · July 2007

Pom juice has the same kind of activity as grapefruit juice. They both inhibit a P450 enzyme.....

which calcium is best?

Comments

Categories