Calcium, also known as Ca, is a chemical element with atomic number 20. Calcium is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth-most-abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust and the most abundant mineral in the human body, accounting for approximately 1.5% of total body weight.
Calcium is an essential mineral necessary for human health. It is necessary for the development and maintenance of strong bones and teeth, where about 99% of the body's calcium is found. Calcium also helps the heart, nerves, muscles, and other body systems work properly. Calcium is required for vascular contraction and vasodilation, muscle function, nerve transmission, intracellular signaling and hormonal secretion, though less than 1% of total body calcium is needed to support these critical metabolic functions.
Your body needs several other nutrients in order for calcium to be absorbed and used properly, including magnesium, phosphorous, and especially vitamins D and K. It is important to get plenty of calcium in the foods you eat. Foods rich in calcium include dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt, and leafy, green vegetables. The exact amount of calcium you need depends on your age and other factors. Growing children and teenagers need more calcium than young adults. Older women need plenty of calcium to prevent osteoporosis. People who do not eat enough high-calcium foods should take a calcium supplement.
Postmenopausal women, people who consume large amounts of caffeine, alcohol, or soda, and those who take corticosteroid medications may need calcium supplements. Calcium deficiency can be found in people who don't absorb enough calcium, as can happen with Crohn's disease, celiac disease, and some intestinal surgeries.
Calcium is used as a reducing agent in order to extract metals. Is is also used to make dairy products such as cheese. Insecticides (chemicals that kill pests) are made using calcium arsenate. Fireworks, torpedoes and flares can all be made from calcium phosphide.
Ice is removed from roads using calcium chloride. It is also added to canned tomatoes and is a conditioner in concrete. Cement and mortar, important when constructing buildings and other things, are also made using calcium.
Calcium carbonate is used to make lime and limestone which are important in the glass industry. Acetylene gas (used for welding) and some plastics are made from calcium carbide. Calcium gluconate is used as a food additive. It is also added to vitamin pills. Blackboard chalk is made from calcium sulfate.
Calcium hypochlorite is used to disinfect pools (remove bacteria) and is also a bleach. Additionally, it is added to deodorants and fungicide. Other compounds of calcium are used in liquid rocket fuel, textile production, dental products (including toothpaste), fertilizer and the making of dough and yeast products.
Calcium is used for treatment and prevention of low calcium levels and resulting bone conditions including osteoporosis (weak bones due to low bone density), rickets (a condition in children involving softening of the bones), and osteomalacia (a softening of bones involving pain). Calcium is also used for premenstrual syndrome (PMS), leg cramps in pregnancy, high blood pressure in pregnancy (pre-eclampsia), and reducing the risk of colon and rectal cancers.
Some people use calcium for complications after intestinal bypass surgery, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Lyme disease, to reduce high fluoride levels in children, and to reduce high lead levels.
Calcium carbonate is used as an antacid for "heartburn." Calcium carbonate and calcium acetate are also used for reducing phosphate levels in people with kidney disease.
Calcium is an essential mineral for healthy bones, gums and teeth. Calcium strengthens backbone and ensures the right shape to the body apart from alleviating the risks of back pain. Calcium helps to keep the bones in its good shape and prevents many skeletal complaints like rickets, arthritis and osteoporosis which could hamper the free movement apart from being extremely painful.
Taking calcium by mouth is effective for preventing and treating bone loss and osteoporosis. Your body needs calcium to help build and maintain healthy bones and strong teeth. People start to lose more bone than their bodies make in their 30s, and the process speeds up as they get older. Most bone growth occurs in the teenage years, and then bone strength in women remains about the same until age 30-40. After age 40, bone loss typically occurs at rates of 0.5% to 1% per year. In men, this occurs several decades later. There is more bone loss if less than the recommended amount of calcium is obtained from the diet. This is very common among Americans. Studies have shown that calcium, particularly in combination with vitamin D, may help prevent bone loss associated with menopause. It may also help prevent bone loss in older men. If you do not get enough calcium in your diet, your doctor may recommend a supplement. Bone loss in women over 40 can be reduced by taking calcium supplements. Some researchers estimate that taking calcium for 30 years after menopause might result in a 10% improvement in bone strength, and a 50% overall reduction in bone break rates.
Calcium efficiently helps in maintaining an optimum body weight in both males and females. If there is any deficit in calcium in your diet, the body shall tend to release parathyroid hormone, which in turn stimulates the bones to release calcium into your blood stream, thereby keeping the balance. A high calcium intake suppresses these hormones so the body stores less fat and is able to break it down easily.
Adults and children with low calcium intake are more likely to gain weight, have a higher body mass index (BMI), and be overweight or obese compared to people with high calcium intake. So researchers have studied whether increasing calcium intake might help with weight loss. Some clinical research shows that increasing calcium consumption from dairy products such as yogurt seems to increase weight loss, lean body mass, and body fat loss in people on a low-calorie diet as well as people on a regular unrestricted-calorie diet.
Calcium protects your heart muscles. Sufficient amounts of calcium help cardiac muscles to do the contraction and relaxation properly. Calcium also helps the nervous system to maintain the proper pressure in your arteries. If there is a calcium drop, a hormone called calcitrol is released which contracts the smooth muscles of the arteries, thereby increasing the blood pressure. Cardiac muscles need extracellular calcium ions for contraction. When the intracellular concentration of calcium increases, the calcium ions gather together to the protein troponin that stimulates extracellular fluid and the intracellular stores, even the skeletal muscle, which is only activated by calcium stored in the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Research suggests that high intake of dietary or supplemental calcium seems to reduce the risk of colon cancer and suppresses the growth of polyps that can lead to cancer. Research also shows that taking calcium supplements might help to keep colon cancer from returning.
Calcium supplementation reduces the risk of adenomas, also known as nonmalignant tumors in the colon. This is actually a precursor to colon cancer, however it's still not known if calcium intake minimizes the cancer risk completely. The excess calcium that's left in your intestines after your body absorbs what it needs. On its way through the colon, this unabsorbed calcium is believed to bind with cancer promoters so they're excreted together from the body. Studies have shown that both food sources of calcium and calcium supplements provide this protective effect. Calcium supplements should be taken in liquid form because liquid vitamins absorb 5 times better than the pills.
There seems to be a link between low dietary calcium intake and symptoms of PMS. One large, well-designed study showed that women who took 1,200 mg of calcium per day reduced their symptoms of PMS by 50%, including headache, mood swings, bloating, food cravings, and pain. A smaller study suggested that calcium may help reduce menstrual pain. Also, increasing calcium intake from food seems to prevent PMS. Women consuming an average of 1283 mg/day of calcium from foods seem to have about a 30% lower risk of developing PMS than women who consume an average of 529 mg/day of calcium. Taking calcium supplements, however, doesn't seem to prevent PMS.
People who do not get enough calcium may be at higher risk for hypertension or high blood pressure. Some studies suggest that increasing calcium levels may lower blood pressure slightly (usually around 1-2 mmHg) in people with or without high blood pressure. Calcium seems to be more effective in salt-sensitive people and people who normally get very little calcium. Taking calcium by mouth also seems to be helpful for reducing blood pressure in people with serious kidney disease. If you want to try calcium supplements, do not stop taking your blood pressure medication. Instead, talk to your health care provider about the right amount of calcium for you. You may need to take calcium for 6 - 8 weeks before you see any improvement in blood pressure.
Taking 1-2 grams of calcium by mouth each day also seems to reduce high blood pressure during pregnancy and preeclampsia, a combination of high blood pressure, fluid retention, and high levels of protein in the urine that some women develop during the last trimester of pregnancy. Calcium appears to reduce the risk of high blood pressure in pregnancy by about 50%. Calcium appears to have the greatest effect in high-risk women and women with low calcium levels. Taking a prenatal vitamin, with magnesium, folic acid, and many other nutrients, and getting enough calcium in food, may lower the risk of developing high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Kidney Stones are actually the crystallized deposits of calcium and other minerals in the human urinary tract. The most common form of kidney stones is the oxalate stones. Previously, it was thought that high calcium intakes or high calcium absorption develops kidney stones, but the latest studies show that high dietary calcium intakes decrease the hazards of kidney stones considerably. In short, dietary calcium does not cause kidney stones, but the excess calcium present in water that result in kidney stones. Other factors like high oxalate consumption from leafy vegetables like kale and spinach, and reduced fluid consumption can prove to be a big cause for kidney stones.
Junk foods, excess sugars and preserved food items contributes in forming acidity in the body, which in turn could give rise to various disease conditions like cancer, kidney stones and hypertension. Calcium helps to maintain a healthy pH level, thereby improving your vitality and overall health.
Preliminary studies in animals and people suggest that calcium supplements, in the range of 1,500 - 2,000 mg per day, may help to lower cholesterol slightly. From these studies, it seems that calcium supplements, along with exercise and a healthy diet, may be better at keeping cholesterol at normal levels than at lowering already high cholesterol. More research is needed.
Rickets causes softening and weakening of the bone in children. Although very rare in North America and Western Europe, where children drink a lot of milk, it still happens in many parts of the world. Researchers thought rickets was caused by a vitamin D deficiency. But a study in 2000 showed that taking calcium supplements is an effective treatment.
In a population-based study, in which large groups of people were followed over time, women who took in more calcium, both through food and supplements, were less likely to have a stroke over a 14-year period. More research is needed.
Calcium protects your teeth by keeping the jaw bone strong and sturdy all through your life, which in turn ensures tight fitting teeth where bacteria cannot thrive. Thus, before your teeth and gums start giving trouble ensure a calcium rich diet regularly. Calcium intake should be high especially from tender age, so that your kid naturally grows up with strong teeth.
Calcium helps in the easy movement of nutrients across cell membranes.
Calcium being the most important mineral, we tend to neglect it the most. Most of the children fuss about having milk and eventually with age stop drinking milk altogether. It should be widely known that such ignorance of calcium mineral can result in many serious diseases in long run. Calcium is a vital element in any healthy human diet. If milk and dairy products are not desirable, try to combine these ingredients with other cereals and make recipes that involve milk and dairy products. However, today almost all chemists have calcium supplements in their shops, though it's always advisable to take a physician's direction before starting any medicine course.
Calcium Deficiency, also known as Hypocalcaemia, refers to when a person has insufficient levels of calcium in the blood. Not only is calcium essential for maintaining the overall health of bones and teeth, but it is also needed in other parts of the body such as the nerves and muscles.
For most people, there are usually no obvious signs of a calcium deficiency until osteoporosis is discovered. Most of the symptoms that might occur due to a deficiency would be seen only if calcium levels are low in the blood (although the body is very good at keeping the blood calcium levels steady). Fortunately, taking more calcium is very effective for treating calcium deficiencies.
Symptoms of calcium deficiency include muscle cramps, muscle twitching and back spasms. Often people will complain of a "pins and needles" sensation around the mouth and in the fingers and toes. Bones become more porous and fragile while teeth are susceptible to tooth decay. Calcium deficiency symptoms may also include brittle nails, course hair, dull looking skin and listlessness. Calcium deficient people also tend to suffer from insomnia and have pale complexions with a low tolerance for colder climates. Hypertension, convulsions and severe menstrual cramps are also examples of symptoms one might experience.
It is important that people from these groups meet their calcium needs:
Babies – bottlefed babies are estimated to need more than babies that are breastfed because the calcium in infant formula may not be absorbed as efficiently as that found in breast milk.
Young children – skeletal tissue is constantly growing so young children have high calcium requirements.
Pre-teens and teenagers – puberty prompts a growth spurt. This group also needs more calcium to build peak bone mass. If the skeleton is strengthened with enough calcium during these years, diseases like osteoporosis in the later years are thought to be less likely.
Early 20s to mid-life – sufficient dietary calcium is required to maintain bone mass, although the amount of calcium required is less than during growth stages of life.
Pregnant women – a developing baby needs a lot of calcium and this is taken from the mother's bones. However, most women rapidly replace this bone loss once the baby has stopped breastfeeding. There is no need for adult women to take additional dietary calcium during pregnancy, but pregnant adolescents require more calcium to meet the requirements of both their own growth and the fetus.
Breastfeeding women – there is no increased requirement for calcium during breastfeeding, except for breastfeeding adolescents.
Elderly people – as we age, the skeleton loses calcium. Women lose more calcium from their bones in the 5–10 years around the age of menopause. However, both men and women lose bone mass as they grow older and need to make sure they get enough calcium in their diet to offset these losses. While a diet high in calcium cannot reverse age-related bone loss, it can slow down the process.
Caucasian (white) people – have larger frame sizes and generally have higher intakes of animal foods, caffeine and salt. It is thought they may need more calcium than non-Caucasian people who often have smaller frame sizes.
Main Article: Calcium Rich Foods
Dairy products are one of the best and most convenient sources of calcium. Good sources of calcium, with 200 to 300 mg per serving, include yogurt, milk, cheese---cheddar, muenster, Provolone, Ricotta, mozzarella and Swiss---egg nog, buttermilk, condensed and evaporated milk. The calcium content is not affected by choosing low-fat or non-fat products, such as skim milk vs. whole milk. The low-fat or non-fat products can contain more calcium; one cup of skim has 306 mg, and one cup of whole milk has 276 mg. Good non-dairy sources of calcium include canned salmon with bones, tofu, soybeans, spinach and turnip greens that are cooked, canned or frozen, waffles from scratch and baking powder.
Moderate dairy sources, with 100 to 200 mg per serving, include canned or frozen shrimp, ice cream and soft-serve frozen yogurt, rhubarb, instant dry milk, blackstrap molasses, navy and white beans, great northern and baked beans, kidney beans, almonds, sesame seeds, cottage cheese, feta and bleu cheese, and one cup of greens such as kale, broccoli or dandelion leaves.
Other good sources of calcium carbonate include enriched products, which are foods that have calcium carbonate added to them. Many ready-to-eat cereals are enriched with calcium. Beverages that are fortified, or enriched, are also a good source of calcium, such as fortified orange juice and malted drink mixes.
There are many forms of calcium available as dietary supplements. They differ in the amount of calcium they have, how well the body absorbs them, and how much they cost. The two most popular forms are calcium citrate and calcium carbonate.
Calcium citrate: Easily absorbed and digested by the body. It does not contain as much elemental calcium -- the amount your body actually absorbs -- as calcium carbonate. It is more expensive than calcium carbonate. Also, calcium citrate should not be used with aluminum-containing antacids (see "Possible Interactions" section).
Calcium carbonate: Less expensive than calcium citrate and contains more elemental calcium. Requires a certain amount of stomach acid to be absorbed, so it is usually taken with a glass of orange juice. Many antacids contain calcium carbonate.
Calcium supplements that are derived from oyster shells, dolomite, and bone meal are best avoided as they may contain lead, a toxic metal that can harm the brain and kidneys, cause anemia, and raise blood pressure.
Calcium supplements should be taken in small doses (no more than 500 mg at a time) in divided doses during the day with 6 - 8 cups of water to avoid constipation.
The Institute of Medicine publishes a recommended daily allowance (RDA) for calcium which is an estimate of the intake level necessary to meet the requirements of nearly all healthy individuals in the population. The current RDA was set in 2010. The RDA varies based on age as follows:
|
Age |
Male |
Female |
Pregnant |
Lactating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
0–6 months* |
200 mg |
200 mg |
|
|
|
7–12 months* |
260 mg |
260 mg |
|
|
|
1–3 years |
700 mg |
700 mg |
|
|
|
4–8 years |
1,000 mg |
1,000 mg |
|
|
|
9–13 years |
1,300 mg |
1,300 mg |
|
|
|
14–18 years |
1,300 mg |
1,300 mg |
1,300 mg |
1,300 mg |
|
19–50 years |
1,000 mg |
1,000 mg |
1,000 mg |
1,000 mg |
|
51–70 years |
1,000 mg |
1,200 mg |
|
|
|
71+ years |
1,200 mg |
1,200 mg |
|
|
* Adequate Intake (AI)
The Institute of Medicine also sets the daily tolerable upper intake level (UL**) for calcium based on age as follows: Age 0-6 months, 1000 mg; 6-12 months, 1500 mg; 1-3 years, 2500 mg; 9-18 years, 3000 mg; 19-50 years, 2500 mg; 51+ years, 2000 mg. Doses above these levels should be avoided.
** Tolerable upper intake
levels (UL), to caution against excessive intake of nutrients that
can be harmful in large amounts. UL is the highest level of daily
consumption that current data have shown to cause no side effects in
humans when used indefinitely without medical supervision.
Doses
over the recommended daily intake level of 1000-1300 mg/day for most
adults have been associated with an increased risk of heart attack.
Until more is known, continue consuming adequate amounts of calcium
to meet daily requirements, but not excessive amounts of calcium. Be
sure to consider total calcium intake from both dietary and
supplemental sources and try not to exceed 1000-1300 mg of calcium
per day. To figure out dietary calcium, count 300 mg/day from
non-dairy foods plus 300 mg/cup of milk or fortified orange juice.
The
following doses have been studied in scientific research:
BY
MOUTH:
For preventing low calcium levels: 1 gram elemental calcium daily is typically used.
For heartburn: Calcium carbonate as an antacid is usually 0.5-1.5 grams as needed.
To reduce phosphates in adults with chronic renal failure: The initial dose of calcium acetate is 1.334 grams (338 mg elemental calcium) with each meal, increasing to 2-2.67 grams (500-680 mg elemental calcium) with each meal if necessary.
For prevention of weak bones (osteoporosis): Doses of 1-1.6 grams elemental calcium daily from foods and supplements. Osteoporosis treatment guidelines in North America currently recommend 1200 mg daily of calcium.
For prevention of bone loss in premenopausal women over 40: A dose of 1 gram.
For prevention of colon cancer, 1,800 mg per day may be required.
For pregnant women with low dietary calcium intake: The dose for increasing fetal bone density ranges from 300-1300 mg/day beginning at gestation week 20-22.
For premenstrual syndrome (PMS): 1-1.2 grams calcium per day as calcium carbonate.
For reducing thyroid hormone levels in people with chronic renal failure: 2-21 grams calcium carbonate.
To prevent bone loss in people taking corticosteroid drugs: Divided daily doses of 1 gram of elemental calcium daily.
For high blood pressure: 1-1.5 grams calcium daily.
For preventing high blood pressure during pregnancy (pre-eclampsia): 1-2 grams elemental calcium daily as calcium carbonate.
For preventing colorectal cancer and recurrent colorectal benign tumors (adenomas): Calcium 1200-1600 mg/day.
For high cholesterol: 1200 mg daily with or without vitamin D 400 IU daily has been used in conjunction with a low-fat or calorie-restricted diet.
For preventing fluoride poisoning in children: Calcium 125 mg twice daily, in combination with ascorbic acid and vitamin D.
For weight loss, increasing calcium consumption from dairy products to total intake of 500-2400 mg/day in combination with a calorie-restricted diet has been used.
Calcium carbonate and
calcium citrate are the two most commonly used forms of
calcium.
Calcium supplements are usually divided into two
doses daily in order to increase absorption. It's best to take
calcium with food in doses of 500 mg or less.
Side effects can include constipation, belching, gas and stomach upset. Very high doses can cause nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, increased urination, kidney damage, confusion, and irregular heart rhythm. Side effects of the supplement are usually not dangerous, but calcium toxicity can occur with very high dosages.
Some possible side effects of calcium are more serious and should always be reported to your healthcare provider. These side effects include:
Kidney stones
Excessive drowsiness
Muscle weakness
Nausea and vomiting
Frequent urination
Changes in your heart rate
Confusion
Signs of an allergic reaction, such as:
Hives or a rash
Itching
Swelling of the lips, mouth, or throat
Wheezing or other difficulty breathing.
Although an allergy to calcium would be highly unlikely (since calcium is found naturally throughout the human body), it is possible for people to be allergic to inactive ingredients in calcium supplements.
Because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications, you should take dietary supplements only under the supervision of a knowledgeable health care provider. Total calcium intake, from combined dietary and supplemental sources, should not exceed 2,500 mg per day.
People with hyperparathyroidism, kidney failure, sarcoidosis, or cancer could be at risk for high levels of calcium and should not take calcium supplements.
People with a history of kidney stones should not take calcium supplements. However, some research suggests that calcium in foods may not increase the risk of kidney stones. If you have or have had kidney stones, talk to your doctor about whether you should limit calcium in your diet.
Some population studies suggest that getting high amounts (more than 2,000 mg per day) of calcium through the diet may increase the risk of prostate cancer. If you have prostate cancer, or are concerned about dairy products and prostate cancer risk, talk to your doctor.
The Institute of Medicine sets the tolerable upper level of daily calcium intake at 2,500 mg. Some studies have suggested that getting amounts higher than 1,000 - 1,200 mg/day may be associated with an increased risk of heart attack, but right now the research can't say whether high calcium actually causes an increased risk.
When figuring out how much calcium you need, be sure to take into account the calcium-rich foods you eat -- such as cheese, yogurt, milk -- along with any supplements.
If you are being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use calcium supplements without first talking to your health care provider.
Biphosphates -- These medications are used to treat osteoporosis and some other bone conditions. Calcium may interfere with how your body absorbs them, so calcium-containing products should be taken at least 2 hours before or after bisphosphonates.
Antacids that contain aluminum -- When calcium citrate is taken with these antacids, the amount of aluminum absorbed into the blood may go up. For people with kidney disease, the aluminum levels could be toxic.
Blood pressure medications -- Taking calcium with a beta-blocker may interfere with blood levels of both the calcium and the beta-blocker. Study results aren't clear, however. It also has been reported that calcium interferes with calcium channel blockers, but these study results are also mixed. If you take a beta-blocker or calcium-channel blocker, do not take calcium supplements without your health care provider's supervision.
Cholesterol-lowering medications -- A type of medication known as bile acid sequestrants, used to treat high cholesterol, may interfere with calcium absorption and raise the amount of calcium that leaves the body in urine. Your doctor may recommend taking calcium and vitamin D supplements.
Calcipotriene (Dovenex) -- Taking calcium supplements while using calcipotriene, a topical medication for psoriasis, could increase the risk of having calcium levels that are too high (hypercalcemia).
Corticosteroids (prednisone) -- If you take corticosteroids on a long-term basis, you may need to take calcium supplements.
Digoxin -- High levels of calcium may raise the risk of a toxic reaction to digoxin, a medication used to treat irregular heart rhythms. On the other hand, low levels of calcium keep digoxin from working. If you take digoxin, your health care provider should monitor your calcium levels closely.
Diuretics (water pills) -- Different types of diuretics interact with calcium in opposite ways.
Estrogens -- Estrogens may contribute to an overall increase in calcium blood levels. Taking calcium supplements with estrogens improves bone density.
Gentamicin -- Taking calcium during treatment with the antibiotic gentamicin may increase the potential for toxic effects on the kidneys.
Sotalol (Betapace) -- Sotalol is used to treat an irregular heartbeat. Calcium may decrease how much sotalol is absorbed by the body.
Thyroid hormone -- Calcium can decrease the amount of thyroid hormone medication that your body absorbs.
Antibiotics -- Different types of antibiotics interact with calcium.
Anti-seizure medications -- Some seizure medications may lower levels of calcium in the body. Some doctors recommend taking vitamin D along with anti-seizure drugs to try to keep calcium levels up. You should take doses of calcium and anti-seizure medications at least 2 hours apart because each interferes with the absorption of the other.
The following reviews have been selected:
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
My favorite calcium supplement! April 23, 2008
From Texas
I really like this one because it has the Vit D already in it which is necessary for proper calcium absorption. And very interesting....when I take this product regularly, I stop snoring!!! I was also waking up in the middle of the night gasping for air. Is this the key to prevent snoring and sleep apnea? It is for me...It may be for others as well!
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
This one WORKS!!` February 25, 2009
From Missouri
I have used many different brands and combinations of Cal/Mag... This combo in softgel form really works to calm nerves and restless legs often in as little as 20 minutes! I'm at mid-life and I find that going too many days without this product and I am edgy and anxious, AND don't sleep well. I'm sold and will be careful to make sure I order the right form from now on. Capsules do not seem to work as well.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
All I can say is WOW! February 12, 2009
From Illinois
Although these are large gelcaps, they're very easy to swallow. I've noticed immediate improvement. I'm sleeping more soundly, less water retention, and my minor knee pain just went away.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Carolyn January 10, 2009
By Carolyn Lyon From Florida
Been using this product for years and have good bone density reviews.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Gloria Hinton March 11, 2008
From New Hampshire
I take this in conjunction with Strotium. I take the calcium at night to give a calming effect and the Strotium in the morning. Even though the capsules are on the big side, they are easy to go down. Because we need the D and the Magnesium to help assimilate the calcium, this is a great product bringing these essentials all together in one swallow!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
...Calcium & Magnesium February 29, 2008
From Minnesota
Great product! I no longer have issues with constipation! At the same time I am getting my Calcium. I can only take one capsule though, otherwise would run through me. I have Calcium in my multivitamin as well, so that is ok.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Mrs. Fofana September 21, 2008
From Illinois
I have been using this product for about four months. I hear quite a bit of noise in my knees when I sit for a long time (work at a computer). The days I do not take my vitamins faithfully is when I hear more noise.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
GOOD PRODUCT October 28, 2008
By maja van der veer winkler From Netherlands
SINCE I TOOK THIS ,MY NAILS ARE GROWING BACK SO I KNOW IT WORKS....THE SOFTGELLS ARE BIG BUT EASY TO TAKE, I ACTUALLY CHEW ON THEM AND LIKE IT.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Molly February 04, 2009
By Molly Moore From Washington
The calcium/magnesium has helped with body aches. This is a good product.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Cal-Mag-D August 30, 2009
From New Zealand
I actually noticed a difference when I ran out - my cravings for chocolate increased!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Outstanding product! November 13, 2009
From Indiana
I have very slow kidney function. Even with proper diet, and a healthy lifestyle I have a real problem with water retention. I've been taking this product for several weeks now and love the results. I noticed the results within 48 hours of starting this product...and they stay consistent. I also have severe degenerative disk disease, and adding the great absorption combination of the calcium citrate and magnesium is helping too. Can't go wrong here. Buy it...you'll like it!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
What an amazing product! November 26, 2009
From Canada
I love this product because you get Calcium, magnesium, Vit D and zinc in one softgel and if I was purchasing separately I would be paying so much more. The softgels are large but easily swallowable. I sleep better and have less joint pain and I tend to get run down easily but I have felt very healthy taking this supplement and will definitely re-order.
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