Vitamins and supplements -- questions

[Guest guest]

More questions. I keep printing things out and reading them. But I am

finding that they are giving me questions.

For instance:

1) What is elemental calcium? How does that differ from citrate and

caltrate? I know how citrate and caltrate differ from my readings but a

definition of elemental calcium would be helpful.

2) Vitamin A -- what is the difference between palmitate and beta carotene

forms? I read that Palmitate form can be toxic at high levels but beta

carotene can not. Is it that the body makes Vitamin A from beta carotene?

3)What does water soluble mean? And fat soluble? Is that where the vitamins

are stored (well in the case of water they are flushed from the system)?

Definitions please. I am trying to figure it out and while I may understand

the gist of what is being said I like understanding all the terms. Pardon my

ignorance here. But I want to know and not just parrot what others say. I

have been doing a lot of research and these are things that are confusing

me.

Rasley

mailto:drasley@...

BTC, Columbus, 10/7/98

Lost over 90% of excess and maintaining

Gained a beautiful daughter on 8/9/00

[Guest guest]

> 1) What is elemental calcium? How does that differ from citrate and

> caltrate? I know how citrate and caltrate differ from my readings but a

> definition of elemental calcium would be helpful.

" Elemental calcium " is calcium just by itself, i.e., without being

attached to any other type of molecule. The body takes elemental

calcium and uses it for a multitude of things. " Calcium citrate " is

calcium that is bound in a citrate molecule, i.e., elemental calcium

plus citric acid plus binders and fillers. " Caltrate " is the brand name

of a line of calcium supplement products. Caltrate uses calcium in the

form of calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate, or commonly known as

blackboard chalk, is typically 40% elemental calcium, meaning that by

weight, 40% of the product is pure calcium. The problem with calcium

carbonate is that it comes is a rather large molecule. Unless broken

down by stomach acid, the calcium carbonate molecule is too large to

slip through the absorption receptors in the jejunum and ileum that RNY

patients use to absorb nutrients.

>

> 2) Vitamin A -- what is the difference between palmitate and beta carotene

> forms? I read that Palmitate form can be toxic at high levels but beta

> carotene can not. Is it that the body makes Vitamin A from beta carotene?

Palmitate is a form of vitamin A. It can be toxic in high doses. There

are different recommendations as to the cut off level, but it is

generally recommended that vitamin A supplements not exceed 20,000 iu

(International Units) a day. Beta carotene is not vitamin A per se, but

the body can convert it directly into vitamin A. It is not toxic. When

the body has all the vitamin A it needs, it just stops converting beta

carotene. Beta carotene is more expensive than Palmitate which is why

Palmitate is used more extensively.

>

> 3)What does water soluble mean? And fat soluble? Is that where the vitamins

> are stored (well in the case of water they are flushed from the system)?

>

A fat soluble vitamin (ADEK) is a vitamin that the body can store in fat

for future use, hence it is fat soluble. The vitamin does not come from

a " fat " source. A water soluble vitamin is dissolvable in water. Since

the body does not store water, it takes whatever water soluble vitamins

it needs as the water is passing through. What it does not need, is

excreted out in urine. Water soluble vitamins are not stored by the

body.

Ray Hooks

For WLS nutrition info, visit

http://www.bariatricsupplementsystem.com