Calcium supplements?

My Doc likes Caltrate D. But I will tell you that I sometimes take Tums and a vitamin D capsule instead - espcially if I am having difficult stomach stuff.
I am probably split between the two, but I do try to take one or the other every day.

For some reason Caltrate D makes my GERD crazy, which it is anyways. I take a couple of tums a day and try to spend at least 10 mins. daily in the sun for vit. D.

I take a chocolate cherry Viactive chew in the morning (500 mg calcium, 200 IU vitamin D), and then I take an Oscal at night (500 mg Calcium, 200 IU Vitamin D), and I also take a Centrum Multivitamin (200 mg Calcium, 400 IU Vitamin D) and 100 mg magnesium). Overall, I take 1200 mg calcium per day, which is what is recommended. I take it during my meals. I do drink lots of milk and eat yogurt too. Even still, I do have osteopenia, and I am supposed to go on meds if it gets any worse. I have to get back to doing some weight training, as that actually stopped the progression for awhile. Not heavy weights, just light, "girl-level" training for strengthening and toning.

I know that you have to make sure that you also get enough vitamin D and magnesium to help you absorb your calcium, and plenty of exercise to make your bones stronger. I also try to avoid caffiene, but I don't often do a good job of that. I need to cut that out some, espcially the soda with the phosphates in it.

I haven't been able to find a calcium that I tolerate as many contain citrate, which I don't do well with. The Caltrate D is calcium carbonate, which is constipating so that too would not work for me; plus it contains corns starch and colorings I don't tolerate. Calcium carbonate is not a highly absorbed form of calcium. There are several other types of calcium that have higher absorption rates (citrate, lactate, glycinate, amino acid chelate, etc.) My preference would be for a calcium amino acid chelate, but I haven't been able to find one without citric acid, which is indeed a histamine liberator! Tums contains aluminum so it's one I steer away from as well.I feel stuck here. My doctor sometimes gives me homeopathic calcium and I've considered taking the ionic type. I'm still searching, but will probably do more homeopathic calcium until I find a better solution. Sandra Lee

Ooops! I was wrong about the calcium carbonate. It does have the most elemental calcium.

"Look at the label to see how much elemental calcium is supplied by each tablet. If the label doesn't state the amount of elemental calcium, you can figure it to be:

* 40 percent for calcium carbonate
* 21 percent for calcium citrate
* 13 percent for calcium lactate
* 9 percent for calcium gluconate

This means that if you take 1,000 mg of calcium carbonate, you will get 40 percent elemental calcium, or 400 mg."

Sandra Lee

Julie,
Caltrate D - which my Doc thinks is the best one of all the calcium supplements - bothers my reflux and stomach stuff some days too. That is why I often take Tums instead of Caltrate D. In the winter I take Vitamin D with it - in summer I sometimes don't take the Vitamin D as I am outdoors a lot and see no reason to be inside if the weather is the least bit cooperative. Glad and sorry to see that I am not alone on that one.

there are also some great supplement blends high in chelated magnesium with calcium, malic acid, all the vitamin groups etc et al!! I find these to be great as they are in powered form and are not hard for the body to metabolise.
Off the top of my head I cannot remember the brand and I'm not at home to pop into the kitchen to have a lookie either.... i also wish i'd remembered to bring them, ugh!

I don't take any calcium supplement. I did have a bone density test to check out my bones. Thankfully, they are in great shape, so I just try to remember to drink and eat things high in calcium or with added calcium (like orange juice). Unfortunately, I seem to feel ill from certain supplements or vitamins, so I am super careful! I am glad that you are discussing this, though, because I suppose I will eventually need to take them.

I have osteoporosis and osteopenia both discovered this last summer. I take Viactiv twice a day, and a Centrum MVI each day. At first the Viactiv was fine, now I take it with food, because some days my body doesn't quite like it. I also take Omega 3 pill to help decrease the inflammation.
It seems to be working pretty well, and no side effects as yet!! I know light weight training, even if its just 1-2 pounds is supposed to help and light walking or exercise. Which I hope to start in the new year :):)