Calcium supplements

[lesbud1]

Hi all

can anyone give me advice please about calcium supplements, post menopause? is calcium citrate worth considering? Many thanks.

[humanbean]

Why do you want to take calcium? Have you been tested and found to be deficient?

[lesbud1]

No but now 63 and having joint problems.

[humanbean in reply to lesbud1]

There are probably much better supplements than calcium that are helpful for joint aches and pains.

There are several problems with taking calcium ...

1) If you are not deficient then any extra calcium could end up lining your arteries rather than improving your bones.

2) Low calcium can be caused by low vitamin D. Improving vitamin D will increase absorption of calcium from the diet. To make the extra calcium you absorb go into bones and teeth you need vitamin K2 supplements. Having low vitamin D may cause bone and joint aches plus quite a few other symptoms :

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

thyroiduk.org/vitamin-d/

You would be better advised to get vitamin D levels tested and then supplement if necessary to raise levels to optimal. This should also improve calcium levels if necessary.

3) Calcium is not strong. Chalk is mostly calcium carbonate and I'm sure you know it can be snapped very easily. Limestone - also mostly calcium - erodes quickly too.

You might find this link of interest - although it isn't perfect because it mentions calcium first!

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

In people with thyroid disease zinc is often low, while copper is high, so I wouldn't suggest supplementing copper unless it is tested first and found to be deficient.

Personally I take regular supplements containing vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin K2, a B Complex, and magnesium. I also, occasionally, take potassium and vitamin A. I eat a diet that contains fat and protein in (what I consider to be) good amounts.

[bantam12 in reply to lesbud1]

Unless you are definitely deficient on blood tests then taking calcium is a bad idea ! Calcium has to be kept within a tight range and in sync with vitD, parathyroid and phosphate, they all work together to control levels so upset one and you upset all of them.

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osteoporosis.foundation/edu...

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