Clinical Abstracts: Calcium Supplements Equivalent

Clinical Abstracts: Calcium Supplements Equivalent

Source: Heaney RP, et al. Absorbability in cost-effectiveness in calcium supplementation. J Am Coll Nutr 2001; 20:239-246.

Design and Setting: Randomized crossover study.

Participants: Twenty-four postmenopausal women.

Intervention: Single doses of Os-Cal® (calcium carbonate from oyster shell), Citracal® (calcium citrate), encapsulated calcium carbonate, and placebo (empty capsule). All subjects were given vitamin D before and during the study.

Results: All calcium sources were absorbed equally well and were equivalent in bioavailability.

Comments: Calcium carbonate is much cheaper than calcium citrate. Unless there is a problem with gastric acidity, there is no advantage of calcium citrate over calcium carbonate