What is the Best Calcium Supplement for Daily Use?

Most people are aware of the risk factors of calcium deficiency and the need for calcium supplementation, but the number of products currently available can be overwhelming. The question of what is the best calcium supplement to take can be a complicated one, but the answer is fairly simple.

A large assortment of products containing calcium are available over-the-counter and online. Types of calcium supplements include calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, and calcium gluconate, but the type of calcium is not the most important factor when attempting to determine what is the best calcium supplement.

The most important factor to consider when shopping for a calcium supplement is the amount of elemental calcium the supplement contains. Elemental calcium is the amount of calcium in a product that is available for use by your body. Different manufacturers list the amount of elemental calcium in different ways on supplement packaging. Although some directly state the amount of elemental calcium contained in each dose, others only list the total weight of each tablet.

The total weight of a calcium supplement tablet is the weight of the calcium added to whatever substance it is bound to, such as citrate, carbonate, lactate, or gluconate. For many, this makes the process of deciding exactly what is the best calcium supplement a bit confusing.

The easiest way to calculate how much elemental calcium a supplement contains is to read the Nutrition Facts label on the packaging. For calcium, the Percent Daily Value is based on 1,000 mg of elemental calcium, which means that a supplement listing 10 percent in the Daily Value column contains 100 mg of elemental calcium.

What is the Best Calcium Supplement? Other Factors to Consider

In addition the amount of elemental calcium a supplement contains, other factors should be considered before choosing a product. Serving size is especially important for anyone who dislikes taking many pills each day, or who is likely to forget a dose due to a busy schedule or other reasons. Serving size may vary considerably between brands, and it may not be cost effective to purchase a brand that requires taking many pills each day.

Another important element to watch for when determining what is the best calcium supplement to purchase is whether or not the label shows the abbreviation "USP." USP stands for U.S. Pharmacopeia, and products displaying this abbreviation meet or exceed the voluntary standards of the USP for quality, purity, and tablet dissolution.

Calcium supplements that contain oyster shell, dolomite, or bone meal should be avoided, as these products have been found to contain several toxic substances, including lead, arsenic, and mercury. You should also avoid chelated calcium tablets, as they typically cost considerably more than other types of calcium but are no more effective. If selecting a calcium supplement still seems overwhelming, ask your doctor what is the best calcium supplement and dose for your specific needs.