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Most people, not just post-ops, can only absorb 500 mg of elemental

>calcium at a time. If you want to get in an admirable 2000 mg a

day, you will be taking four doses,

-----------------------------------------------

Correct. But please make sure that the 2000mg are elemental. That depends on

how the supplement you're taking is labeled. It can be confusing.

Carol A

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In a message dated 8/26/2003 4:33:20 PM Central Daylight Time,

butch0125@... writes:

> I am instructed to take my calcium at night for

> several reasons, the main one being it can interfere

> with the absorption of other supplements like Vit D.

> I generally take two " ultra " strength Tums or the like

> so around 2000 mg of calcium carbonate, I think.

> -------------------------------------------------------

1. Calcium does seem to like the nighttime better. But

2. You can't absorb more than about 500mg at once anyway, so the other 1500mg

you're taking at the same time is just being wasted. So's your money.

3. Whoever instructed you that calcium will interfere with absorption of vit

D needs to go back to nutrition classes. D HELPS your body absorb calcium. No

interference one way or the other with these 2 supplements.

4. Any calcium carbonate, Tums included, is not going to be much help to you.

We don't have the stomach acid to break it down quickly enuf to be

bioavailable. And, cal carb CAN help create kidney stones (ouch) !! Calcium

citrate is

best absorbed and no kidney stone risk.

5. Make sure the calcium you're taking (whatever mg dosage it is) is

elemental. Calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, ANY kind of calcium is mixed with

binders and only a portion of what's in the pill or capsule is pure/elemental

calcium. Different mfrs label their supplements differently, and it is often

difficult and confusing to find out how much actual (pure/elemental) calcium is

in

one unit.

Carol A

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Oh my goodness, Butch, you've been given a truckload of poor information

about calcium supplementation. Let's try to untangle it.

First, Vitamin D actually HELPS your body absorb calcium, as do

magnesium and boron. Next, calcium carbonate is NOT at all good for

people who have had RNY. Calcium carbonate requires one hour of exposure

to stomach acid to become bioavailable; we do not have that stomach acid

nor that exposure time (minimal stomach acid, no pyloric valve). Calcium

carbonate can also facilitate the formation of kidney stones, if you are

prone to them. Calcium CITRATE is the calcium for us. It was

specifically recommended by the 1994 National Institutes of Health

Consensus Statement on Calcium as the calcium supplement of choice for

people with low stomach acid. Calcium citrate is lab-synthesized, so it

has no risk of heavy-metal contamination as the bone meal, coral calcium

and other " natural " calcium carbonates do.

Most people, not just post-ops, can only absorb 500 mg of elemental

calcium at a time. If you want to get in an admirable 2000 mg a day, you

will be taking four doses, each separated from the other and from any

iron supplementation by at least two hours. Calcium and iron compete for

the same receptors in your small intestine, and if you take them

together, your body will not take in any of the iron you consume.

I have never heard anyone else say that they pee more if they take a

dose of calcium citrate before bed, but that's a great time to take it

because your body can make better use of calcium when your major bones

are not supporting your weight. How much water are you drinking with

that calcium, and would you still drink it if you weren't taking the

calcium? :-)

Personally, I use Mission Pharmacal's Citracal Plus with Magnesium. In

two tablets, it contains:

250 IU of Vitamin D3 as cholecalciferol (the right form) 62% RDA

10 mg of Vitamin B6 as pyridoxine hydrochloride 500% RDA (water-soluble,

high doses not harmful)

500 mg of elemental calcium as calcium citrate 50% RDA

80 mg of magnesium as magnesium oxide (this is a little low, ideal is

250 mg to 500 mg calcium) 20%

10 mg zinc as zinc oxide 66% RDA

1 mg copper as copper gluconate 50% RDA

1 mg manganese as manganese gluconate 50% RDA

1 mg boron as sodium borate, no RDA established though it's proven to

facilitate calcium absorption

I hope this information is helpful.

Ziobro

Open RNY 09/17/01

310/126/141 (goal was 160)

Then/lowest/now

http://www.ziobro.us/index.html NEW homepage!

calcium question

I am instructed to take my calcium at night for several reasons, the

main one being it can interfere with the absorption of other supplements

like Vit D.

I generally take two " ultra " strength Tums or the like so around 2000 mg

of calcium carbonate, I think.

Here is the problem...I think it makes me urinate too much at night.

When I don't take it, I can often sleep through the night, but if I do

take it, it is up at least once and often twice.

First, has anyone else had this problem?

Second, are other docs telling you to take it at night or is it just

" another " supplement to take during the day with or separate from Vit D?

Third, what other calcium supplements are folks using?

Thanks,

Butch

Open RNY, 2/2002

358/215

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Great explanation, ! I hope those whose docs & /or nutritionists

recommend Tums or other " carbs " print this out and show it to them.

They may not admit they're wrong, but I guarantee, it'll give them

pause, and they'll probably change their tune down the road.

in NJ

*************************

>

>

> First, Vitamin D actually HELPS your body absorb calcium, as do

> magnesium and boron. Next, calcium carbonate is NOT at all good for

> people who have had RNY. Calcium carbonate requires one hour of

exposure to stomach acid to become bioavailable; we do not have that

stomach acid nor that exposure time (minimal stomach acid, no pyloric

valve). Calcium carbonate can also facilitate the formation of kidney

stones, if you are prone to them. Calcium CITRATE is the calcium for

us. It was specifically recommended by the 1994 National Institutes

of Health Consensus Statement on Calcium as the calcium supplement of

choice for people with low stomach acid. Calcium citrate is lab-

synthesized, so it has no risk of heavy-metal contamination as the

bone meal, coral calcium and other " natural " calcium carbonates do.

>

> Most people, not just post-ops, can only absorb 500 mg of elemental

> calcium at a time. If you want to get in an admirable 2000 mg a

day, you will be taking four doses, each separated from the other and

from any iron supplementation by at least two hours. Calcium and iron

compete for the same receptors in your small intestine, and if you

take them together, your body will not take in any of the iron you

consume.

>

>>

> Ziobro

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In a message dated 9/2/2003 12:27:56 PM Central Daylight Time,

1angelar@... writes:

>

> Anyway, how many hours apart should you take calcium pills? I know I

> should know this but am really investigating the whole calcium thing

> heavily lately. I don't want my spine to collapse and end up with

> osteoarthritis/osteoporosis like my Mother. I am taking 800 mg in

> the morning and then again later in the day. Is 1600 enough for the

> day, how far apart should the pills be and do I need to avoid food

> with the pills?

> ---------------------------------------------

You are sorta defeating the purpose taking 800mg all at once. We can only

absorb about 500mg at one time. I spread my dosages out over 4 aliquots daily.

You can take with or without food, altho some nutritionists insist you'll absorb

more/better with food. How much is enuf depends on your age and whether or

not you're past menopause. And have you had a Dexascan? If not, you should get

one, find out where you stand. If you already have a problem, you'll want to

take more calcium, plus some treatment meds. Oh, and, make sure that the mg's

you're getting are actually PURE (elemental) calcium, and not the mg's of

calcium plus whatever fillers are in the tabs, caps, whatever it is you're

taking.

And of course, you do know it should be calcium citrate and not calcium

carbonate? And that you need 250 mg magnesium and 200 iu dry D3 for every 500mg

pure

(elemental) calcium? Calcium citrate is between 21% and 29% pure calcium. A

lot of people think they're taking 1000mg and they're really only getting 250mg

or so. Check it out. If you can't fig it out from the label, call the mfr and

talk to a chemist, not a customer service rep.

Carol A

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