HELP!! Calcium/Calcium Citrate question!

 I have always taken Calcium Citrate with Vit. D, well I was at the store with coupon in hand and couldn't remember if it was Calcium with D or Calcium Citrate with D....I bought a GIANT bottle of the Calcium with D.  Do I need the other?  I can't for the life of me remember the reason regarding Citrate.  Please help me!!

We need Calcium Citrate.  if you bought Calcium Carbonate (read the label) you are going to have to return it.  Carbonate is not well absorbed even in normal people.  

Osteoporosis is not a nice thing.  If you can't return it, buy more.  

 Thank you!!

Calcium with D has to be in some form...probably calcium carbonate.  You won't just find plain calcium on the shelf because it's just not naturally found that way.  It's found attached to other things, which makes it more stable.

Calcium citrate is more easily absorbed which is why is it recommended for us.  Calcium carbonate is cheaper, but requires an acidic environment to be absorbed.

Citrate is better.

TwinLab makes calcium citrate without anything else.  So does Vitamin Shoppe.

http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?fromCatId=cat10099&id=TL-1531

Here is the CVS version:

http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/catalog/shop_product_detail.jsp?filterBy=&skuId=247307&productId=247307&navAction=jump&navCount=3

I meant you won't find calcium by itself...like, elemental calcium.

Wow!  I just checked out your pictures.  You are doing so well!

Calcium carbonate is the most common in stores by far but requires stomach acid for absorption.  So many people are on PPI's or H2 blockers or Tum/Rolaids that this form is unreliable at best. 

Calcium citrate gets absorbed regardless of pH.