Calcium - forms, doses, timings

[Houseelf]

Hello, my adjusted calcium is slightly low and I was told to take two of the tablets I had been taking which are 600mg (so having two would mean 1200mg a day). My bloods were tested again yesterday and my adjusted calcium level has remained the same. Has this happened to anyone else?! I'm not on medication that inhibits absorption.

Trying to find out why this might be, I read that the more you have in one go, the less you absorb. Is that right? And for maximum absorption it should be 500mg max at one time, with the rest a few later (if more is needed).

I took both together so wondering if that might be the reason, or whether it is better to have it in a different form. The tablets are calcium carbonate. I looked up calcium citrate and it says there is only 21% absorption compared to 40% absorption of calcium carbonate if latter is taken with a meal which I do. So I don't know if that will make a difference?

I have also read else where that calcium from algae is best - how does one make a decision?! I can't afford to try several different things.

I have used the University of Edinburgh's calcium calculator and get a lot of calcium through the food I eat.

Any help or insight is welcome!

[Met00]

Apparently your body can only absorb 500-600mg calcium at once, so if you're taking more than that it needs to be in 2 doses, presumably several hours apart. Have you been tested for any conditions eg coeliac, that might reduce calcium absorption?

[MsHoliday in reply to Met00]

Yes only 500 mg at a time. I think that the citrate is preferable as a better quality, kinder for stomach but I try NOT to take all as in supplements. For reference see related posts under the feed here regarding risks of taking calcium tablet some good comments. E.g calcium supplements etc and stomaching supplements.

[fmkkm in reply to MsHoliday]

You also need D3 and K2 for absorption.

[Houseelf in reply to fmkkm]

fmkkm Thank you, yes I take both of those (separate tablets but at the same time)

[Houseelf in reply to Met00]

Met00 I haven't been tested for any conditions that might reduce absorption but I have a phone appointment with the GP schedule in a couple of weeks to discuss this possibility. I don't have the symptoms of coeliac though, so I doubt it is that. Currently I'm thinking it might be due to when I was taking them. When it was only one (last year) again there was not much change at all to my adjusted calcium (hence being told to double it) and I'm thinking it is because I would have the 600mg after yoghurt (equivalent to 2 servings). Then to double up and do both then probably didn't help matters.

[Met00 in reply to Houseelf]

If you take a large calcium supplement with or straight after food containing a lot of calcium, it's unlikely that your body will absorb much of the supplement. If the food contains 500mg calcium, you may not absorb any of the supplement. It's a bit complicated though, because you need to take calcium carbonate with food to aid absorption! Calcium citrate doesn't need to be taken with food, so that might be a better alternative if you have calcium in all your meals. However, if you're already getting lots of calcium in your diet, I would ask your doctor to look for reasons why your blood level is low!

[Houseelf in reply to Met00]

Yes, that is what I was thinking. I get about 360mg at supper. I think I will look at calcium citrate as that might be less of a headache regarding when to take it. Either that or the algea one. Do you know which is meant to be better?

[Met00 in reply to Houseelf]

A lot of people say algae calcium is good, but it's still calcium carbonate.

[Houseelf in reply to Met00]

Oh right! So is the difference more to do with the source then?

[Met00 in reply to Houseelf]

I assume so. It isn't something I've looked into, because I don't imagine our digestive systems can tell the difference. I may be mistaken of course ....

[bellybuddie]

Hi I’m wondering the amount of calcium supplement you are taking. If you get lots of calcium from food and are able to calculate the amount, is 2x600mg supplement a bit too much? I get calcium from food only and don’t take supplements at all. Regarding time, there was a suggestion that to have some calcium intake before bedtime. This might be beneficial due to the extended fasting state during night. Personally I drink the mixture of powdered black sesame with 4oz of milk before bedtime, which gives me about 250mg

Could you or someone help explain the difference between blood calcium level and adjusted calcium level that you mentioned? Is adjusted calcium level a better indicator? Do you need a specific test to get it? Thanks

[Houseelf in reply to bellybuddie]

It was before bed I was taking the supplement. I get calcium through food but I am slightly short.

Adjusted calcium is generally considered the better indicator. I'm afraid I can't remember the ins-and-outs of that vs serum calcium, but I do know it is the one to go by! It is tested in the 'bone profile' blood test (that is what it is referred to in England).