1. Why do we need to supplement calcium?
Normal human bones exchange 4-7 grams of calcium with calcium in the blood daily. Adults deposit about 500 milligrams of calcium on their bones every day to form new bones, but also excrete a portion of calcium from urine, feces, and sweat every day. Medical research has shown that adults need to consume 800-1000 milligrams of calcium per day. For growing children, pregnant women, and lactating women, the daily calcium intake should be between 1500-2000 milligrams. If insufficient, negative calcium balance will occur in the body, which can lead to many diseases over time.
2. What are the types of calcium supplements?
There are various types of calcium, including inorganic calcium, organic calcium, and milk calcium, each with different functions.
Inorganic calcium: including calcium chloride, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, etc.
Organic calcium: including calcium lactate, calcium citrate, calcium gluconate, etc.
Milk calcium: It is extracted from sheep milk and cow milk.
3. What are the characteristics of different calcium supplements?
Calcium carbonate is currently the most widely used calcium supplement, with advantages such as high calcium content, minimal side effects, and low price. There are also compound preparations with added vitamin D3. The content of calcium ions in calcium carbonate can reach up to 40%, making it an ideal calcium supplement. But the breakdown of calcium carbonate relies on stomach acid, so it is necessary to adopt a scientific way of taking it to avoid digestive problems such as belching, constipation, and bloating.
Lactic acid calcium belongs to organic acid calcium, which has the advantages of high solubility, high bioavailability, and low gastrointestinal burden. But the calcium content is relatively low, only about 13%, and the calcium content will further decrease after being made into the formulation. If you want to achieve the recommended amount of calcium supplementation, you need to take a large amount and the experience is poor. It is often used as a food additive now.
Calcium citrate is the calcium salt of citric acid, and the calcium element in calcium citrate accounts for 21% of its mass. As a relatively special calcium agent, its dissolution does not rely on gastric acid, so its impact on the digestive system is relatively small. Due to its good water solubility, the dosage form is also relatively flexible. It can be made into oral supplements, effervescent tablets, beverage additives, etc. to meet people's taste needs for calcium supplements. However, due to the fact that calcium citrate can promote the absorption of aluminum in the human body, long-term use can lead to the accumulation of aluminum in the body.
Calcium gluconate has a calcium content of 9% and is commonly used in liquid formulations. Most products on the market are intended for infants and young children, but have low calcium content.
Milk calcium is a concentrated inorganic salt of whey, with high nutritional value and easy digestion and absorption by the human body. Milk calcium is easily confused with lactate calcium in name, but in essence, there is a fundamental difference between the two. The main components of milk calcium are calcium phosphate, calcium citrate, and amino acid chelated calcium, while calcium lactate is the combination of calcium ions and lactic acid. Although milk calcium has a high calcium content, the absorption of calcium in the human body is a complex process. The absorption efficiency of milk calcium is not significantly different from other types of calcium supplements. If there is a certain need for nutrient combination, milk calcium can be chosen.
4. How to choose calcium supplements?
In addition to the above-mentioned calcium supplements, there are also calcium supplements such as active calcium and organic calcium, which have their own characteristics and contraindications for use, and their calcium content is also different. Of course, in the selection of calcium supplements, calcium content is not the only criterion. Calcium content, solubility, absorption rate, bioavailability, and safety are all important indicators. Only by combining the calcium source, dosage form, and patient's physical condition can we better recommend various types of calcium supplements to patients based on their characteristics.
5. What other nutrients are added in conjunction with calcium supplementation?
(1) Vitamin K2
Vitamin K2 can promote osteoblasts and inhibit osteoclasts, thereby promoting bone calcification and helping calcium absorption.
(2) Vitamin D
Vitamin D not only promotes calcium absorption, but also reduces the excretion of calcium through urine.
(3) Magnesium
Magnesium participates in the regulation of bone mineral metabolism. Magnesium deficiency can alter calcium metabolism and calmodulin, while magnesium supplementation can improve good bone mineral density.
(4) Protein rich foods
Moderate amounts of protein and amino acids such as lysine and tryptophan can bind with calcium ions to form soluble substances, enhancing calcium absorption.
This article can serve as a valuable reference for buyers who wish to purchase calcium supplements to ensure long-term success in the fiercely competitive global market.
