Does anyone know which, if any, form of calcium (citrate, pyruvate, etc) is better to take? Just wonderin’
Citrate is supposed to be better than carbonate. Don’t know about other forms.
I’m by no means an expert on this, but my doctor, who deals with a lot of women facing bone loss, recommends a product by Designs for Health called OsteoForce. It has several different types of calcium, accompanied by the appropriate amounts of the vitamins and minerals required for calcium absorption (Vit. D, for instance). It’s a little more expensive than others, but she really feels it is far superior to other calcium supplements.
FWIW
Hey Jamie,
Calcium citrate malate has the highest absolute rate of absorption among the most common calcium salts. However, it has the least elemental calcium per gram.
Calcium carbonate on the other hand, has more elemental calcium per gram but slightly slower absorption.
For this reason, you’ll find a good amount of calcium supplements out there combine a few different salts to provide good absorption over a longer period of time.
Hope this helps,
Alan Couzens, MS(Sports Science), certified nutritionist.
Should also add that there are some co-factors that enhance absorption that every good calcium supplement should have, namely:
Vitamin D
Magnesium.
Personally I like to see
1000mg/ elemental calcium (mix)
500mg/ elemental magnesium
200 IU/ Vit D
in a good calcium supplement.
Hope this helps,
Alan
who’s your nutrition certification through? just curious.
Hey Stutzperson,
I’m certified through Apex.
Alan.
the Viactiv calcium chews are good, if you’re looking for a supplement: they have vitamins D and K in them, which help with calcium absorption.