What's the difference between calcium citrate and calcium carbonate?
While calcium citrate and calcium carbonate can both supply the recommended intake of calcium
in different doses, they do differ in a number of ways:
- In some clinical studies, calcium citrate has been found to be more easily digested and
more readily absorbed than calcium carbonate. In addition, calcium citrate is better absorbed
in persons who have decreased stomach acid.
- While both calcium citrate and calcium carbonate can cause constipation, calcium citrate is
less likely to have this effect. (Note that the overall incidence of constipation is low for
either form.)
- The compound calcium carbonate contains 40% elemental calcium, whereas calcium citrate
contains only 21%. To get the same amount of elemental calcium, you'd have to take more calcium
citrate tablets than you would calcium carbonate.
- Calcium citrate tends to be more expensive than calcium carbonate. And since you'd need to
take more doses to get the same amount of calcium, this also raises your cost.
Regardless of the form of calcium you choose, remember that the more your doses rise above
500 mg per dose, the less calcium your body will actually absorb. Your best solution: Avoid
taking more than 500 mg per dose. If your recommended daily intake is 1,000 mg, for example,
divide that into at least two doses taken over the course of the day. In addition to helping
the absorption issue, splitting up your daily doses can help reduce the possibility of adverse
reactions, the most common of which are gas, bloating, and constipation. If spreading out the
doses does not relieve side effects, try either taking your calcium supplement with meals or
changing brands.
And why do so many calcium supplements contain vitamin D? This vitamin aids the body in
absorbing calcium.
Learn more about osteoporosis in our
Health Encyclopedia.
View calcium
supplements available from Walgreens.com.
If you're looking for more specific answers to specific questions, ask a Walgreens pharmacist here.
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