Your doctor will tell you what an appropriate dose of calcium citrate with vitamin D is for you. Maximum daily dosage may differ depending on your age and condition. Your body's calcium needs range higher as you get older. For most adults, 1000 mg. of calcium per day from food and supplements suffices. Adults above 50 years of age require about 1200 mg. of calcium per day. Doctors do not recommend more than 2500 mg. a day for most adults.
Calcium
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Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answeredThree recent studies show that men taking 1,000 milligrams (mg) or more of calcium a day had a 12 percent or greater reduction in blood pressure. This evidence remains controversial, as some studies have reported no such decrease in blood pressure (however, they were less well controlled). Although the data are still not complete on this topic, blood pressure reduction may be just one added benefit of taking calcium, which is something you should be doing anyway. Another side note for people with high blood pressure: A common treatment for high blood pressure is the administration of calcium channel blocking drugs. These drugs have nothing to do with calcium supplements, so don't be concerned. Go ahead and take calcium supplements. -
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SCAI answeredWhile more research is needed, heart attack risk may rise for women when they begin calcium supplementation (with or without vitamin D), according to a recent analysis of research study data from the Women’s Health Initiative and other studies.
A heart attack is caused when blood flow through the coronary arteries that supply blood to your heart is cut off. In coronary artery disease, plaque -- a fatty substance made up of cholesterol, calcium, and other materials -- builds up in the coronary arteries. The plaque can narrow the arteries, and vulnerable plaques can rupture, causing a blood clot to form that can block blood flow.
Because calcium is one of the components of plaque, various researchers have conducted studies to see if calcium supplements can contribute to heart attacks. A study in 2011 in the British Medical Journal analyzing data from the Women’s Health Initiative (a large, long-term study sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) found that women who began supplementation with calcium were more likely to have a heart attack over a five-year period (approximately 6 heart attacks per 1,000 women). Women who had already been taking calcium before joining the study did not have an increase in heart attack risk. So researchers theorize that a sudden change in calcium intake may increase heart attack risk.
These findings reflect the findings of only one study. In fact, other studies have found mixed results. For now, you may want to discuss any concerns you have with your physician and weigh your personal risk of bone fractures versus your risk for a heart attack when considering supplementation. -
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answeredIf you want to choose a great calcium supplement, don't do what desperate game-show contestants do-guess. Take charge -- it is your body -- and read the labels.
You want one with 600 milligrams of calcium, plus 200-300 IU of vitamin D (the vitamin D is what delivers the calcium to your bones) and 200 milligrams of magnesium (which helps balance the effects of calcium on nerve function). Plus, the pill needs to be in a size and taste that you can swallow Twice a day.
That's right: You'll need to take two pills a day, as you need to consume 1,000 to 1,600 mg of total daily calcium (depending on your individual calcium needs) and you can only absorb 600 mg of calcium at a time. This means you'll also be taking a proper daily total of 400 or 600 IU of vitamin D (depending on your specific needs) and 400 mg of magnesium.
Also, remember that you need to consume 1,000 to 1,600 mg of actual calcium per day, not calcium combined with citrate or carbonate; if you choose supplements with citrate or carbonate, check the label for the proper amount of calcium. And make sure you choose the right calcium supplement for you. There are a lot of choices, and not all of them are good ones.
Avoid supplements that have iron in it (iron inhibits calcium's absorption and you typically get enough iron from food; if you're anemic and take calcium, take the iron two hours apart from the calcium). Also, calcium needs an acid environment for absorption so calcium in an antacid that neutralizes acid may not be optimal. -
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Joan Salge Blake, MS, RD , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and DieteticsSee All 4 Answers
If your diet is inadequate in calcium, a supplement may be necessary. However, when it comes to calcium supplements, some may be good but more is not better.
The upper level for calcium has been set at 2,500 milligrams daily to avoid hypercalcemia (hyper = too much; calcemia = calcium in the blood) or too much calcium in the blood, subsequent impaired kidneys, and calcium deposits in the body.
Too much dietary calcium can also cause constipation and interfere with the absorption of other minerals, such as iron, zinc, magnesium, and phosphorus. If your diet is inadequate in calcium, a supplement may be necessary, but be careful not to consume too much.
You should speak with a registered dietitian to determine IF and HOW MUCH of a supplement you should take. You can find a registered dietitian at:www.eatright.org.
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Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answeredMaybe. In the Framingham study, done to examine heart health, one side study showed exercises that strengthen muscles above and below the joint, vitamin C, vitamin D, and calcium helped stop the progression of osteoarthritis. Now here is a caveat: They may sound a bit similar, but osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are two different diseases. While calcium is extremely important for building and keeping strong bones, which staves off osteoporosis, there’s not such strong evidence that extra calcium prevents osteoarthritis or even relieves osteoarthritis symptoms. That being said, inflammatory arthritis accelerates bone loss and strong bones keep you active, which can help relieve symptoms, so getting enough calcium in your diet is crucial. We think you need 600 mg daily from food and supplements. Good food sources include low-fat dairy products (skim milk, no-fat cheese, no-fat yogurt), spinach, and tofu, to name a few. If you need to get the rest from supplements, take it with magnesium. Your pipes will thank us.
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Joan Salge Blake, MS, RD , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and DieteticsSee All 2 AnswersAdults, age 19 to 50 years old need 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily. Women older than 50 and men aged 70 and beyond, should increase their daily intake to 1,200 milligrams.
Milk, yogurt, and cheese are the major sources of calcium in the American diet. Each serving from the dairy group will provide approximately 300 milligrams of calcium. (Choose only nonfat and low-fat milk and yogurt and reduced-fat or skim milk cheeses to reduce the amount of saturated fat in these foods.) Although three servings of dairy foods will just about meet many adults’ daily needs, Americans consume only about 11⁄2 servings of dairy daily, on average. -
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MediGuard answeredBased on information from iGuard.org, a free medication monitoring service, 15% of patients experience side effects while taking Calcium Citrate (Citracal). Some of the side effects reported by iGuard members include: Constipation, Bloating/Gas, Swallowing Problems, and Diarrhea. Please follow up with your doctor or other healthcare provider if you are experiencing any symptoms that worsen or do not go away. -
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answeredSee All 2 AnswersThe most common side effects of calcium citrate with vitamin D are constipation and stomach upset. Calcium citrate may be less likely to cause constipation than calcium carbonate, a form found in many antacid tablets. High dosages of either form may lead to nausea, loss of appetite, kidney damage, confusion and an irregular heart rhythm. The recommended intake of calcium is no more than 2,500 milligrams a day from supplements and foods.
With or without vitamin D, the bone-building mineral can also interact with certain medications, such as aluminum-containing antacids and certain antibiotics, along with medications for thyroid conditions, hypertension, high cholesterol, irregular heartbeats and seizures. Because of potential risks, it’s important to speak with your health-care provider before taking a calcium supplement.