Which type of Calcium should I take?

One question I get asked a lot is "what brand or type of calcium should I take?". Well, there are pros and cons for the different formulations. Here is a run down of the main types of calcium supplements.

Calcium Citrate : Calcium is best absorbed in an acidic environment, hence calcium citrate is the best absorbed supplemental form of calcium. It does not require extra stomach acid for absorption, hence we may take it anytime in a day, even on an empty stomach. However Calcium Citrate usually provides less elemental calcium per pill, therefore one may need to take a relatively more numbers of pills per day depending to the needs. It is more expensive than calcium carbonate. My recommendations would be any of the following;

Citracal Calcium Citrate + D, Coated Caplets

Twinlab Calcium Citrate Caps plus Magnesium, Capsules

GNC Calcium Citrate Plus, Tablets


Calcium Carbonate : Most calcium pills in the market are in the form of calcium carbonate. It requires extra stomach acid for better absorption, hence it is best taken after meals. It is cheaper than Calcium Citrate. I would recommend the following;

Tums Extra Strength Sugar Free Antacid/Calcium Supplement, Orange Cream

Caltrate 600+D Calcium Supplement with Vitamin D, Tablets

OS-Cal Calcium Supplement, 500 mg with Vitamin D, Tablets

Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews plus Vitamin D and K for Women, Milk Chocolate


Dolomite, Bone Meal or Oyster Shell: These naturally occurring calcium pills may contain heavy metal or lead. At the moment, calcium supplements are not tested by any regulatory agency for lead content. Therefore, I would not recommend using these types of supplements.

Calcium Gluconate and Calcium Lactate: These types of calcium pills contain low content of elemental calcium. Hence, one may need to take a large amount of tablets to meet the calcium requirement! Again, I do not routinely recommend these types of calcium.


Coral Calcium: This type of calcium is marketed for more than bone health. Its infomercial claimed that it can cure all sorts of diseases including cnacer! Remember Coral Calcium is just Calcium Carbonate! These largely unsubstantiated health claims made about coral calcium by at least one company have been so outrageous that a leading trade group of supplement manufacturers asked the government to consider regulatory action (see http://www.crnusa.org/shellnr051603.html) .The U.S. Federal Trade Commision recently responded with charges against its promoters (http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/06/trudeau.htm.) An extensive critique of these claims has been made by Quackwatch.com. I never recommend Coral Calcium.