Reminder about calcium

Just wanted to post a little reminder about calcium.  The ASMBS says we need 1500-2000 mg calcium per day and recommends calcium citrate.  The two most common kinds of calcium found in supplements are calcium citrate and calcium carbonate.  Tums, Viactiv and Caltrate are all calcium carbonate and we don’t absorb that well at all.  We absorb about 4% of the calcium in it so you’d need to take about 60 Viactivs every day to get enough calcium.  No, that’s not a typo.  Optisource also contains calcium carbonate and Bariatric Fusion has a mixture of calcium carbonate and calcium citrate.

Citracal and generic forms of Citracal contain calcium citrate, which is what we need.  It’s hard to find chewable calcium citrate in stores but Celebrate and Bariatric Advantage both make them and you can order online.  Upcal D, which is a powder you can mix in a drink, is also calcium citrate.  You can find liquid forms as well.

Tricalcium phosphate is another kind of calcium found in some supplements and it is also not absorbed well at all.  That’s what’s in Flintstones.  Wellesse, a liquid calcium supplement, contains a mixture of tricalcium phosphate and calcium citrate, so you’ll only absorb some of the calcium in there.

Make sure you take your calcium in doses of 500-600 mg and take them at least two hours apart.  Read the label carefully to see what the serving size is.  Like, Citrical petites have 400 mg per serving but a serving is TWO pills.

Take them two hours away from your iron.

Thanks again for your great advice.

thank you for your posts, always informative about vitamins. quick ? for you. my plan stats calcium in morning, multivitamin with iron in afternoon, calcium again at night. now the iron i ordered from vitalady today the wafers state not to take with any other vitamins/minerals dairy etc etc. my iron+c that ive been taking from celebrate that i run out of tomorrow, i've been taking them WITH my multivitamin since my plan says take your multi and iron. am i not supposed to take it with my multivitamin, should i wait an hour after taking my multivitamin(centrum chewable) before taking the iron?

thanks

IF your multi has no iron or if it DOES have iron but you don't care about absorbing it, you can take the multi and iron together.  To absorb the calcium in your multi, though, you would need to separate them.  But then you could take the calcium and multi at the same time.

Wait about two hours between iron and calcium.

And you'll need calcium three or four times a day, not just twice.

i've been taking the calcium 2x i've been trying to get it in 3x a day but not consistant. once i get back to work wednesday i will have a better routine. i've been taking my calcium 2 hours away from my iron each time though. my multi has 18mg of iron in it. and i need i think its 54? so i've been taking additional iron with the multi. what, in your opinion would be better for me


calcium morning before work(around 8)

multi lunch with iron around 12-1pm

calcium dinner around 530-6pm

calcium again before bed 9-11pm


OR

calcium morning

multi lunch 12-1pm

iron 2-3pm

calcium 530-6pm

calcium before bed

Either of those schedules would work but I personally prefer to have to take vites as few times as possible, so I would pick the schedule that only required taking them four times a day.

Yes, the ASMBS says you need 54-63 mg iron if you still menstruate, unless your labs show something different - and it seems a number of people do end up needing more.

I finally started setting alarms on my cell phone to remind me to take mine because I forgot so often.

thank you!

I have a question.  Is there any form of vitamin that we absorb better than others?  I was never told about taking calcium post-op.  I was told a multi would be enough, but I know last time I had my vitamins checked by my PCP, in January most of my vitamin levels were normal but the low end of normal.  The only one that was extremely low was my vitamin D.  It was 5.  They were testing my levels because I was having all kinds of nerve pain and bone pain.  I started on 50,000IU D3 once a week, Caltrate Plus D (would this be alright for calcium?) and 4,000 IU D3 daily.  I'm not sure if my levels have gone up yet but I would assume so.  I am not in near the pain I was then.  My B-12 was also 300 and they had me supplement the 2,500mcg B-12 twice a week.  My calcium was "normal" but on the low end.  I don't remember the exact number though. 

I'm going to assume with myf amily history of osteoperosis and bone density issues that I should probably do the 2,000mg a day.  What would be the most effecient way to get that? 

Also, I know you've posted about iron before but I couldn't find the post.  Since I'm of child bearing age I'm going to assume that is something I need to supplement as well.  

Why oh why don't all surgeons follow the same guidelines for vitamins?  That would make life much easier.  I get my levels tested again in 2 weeks by my PCP and will probably be bugging you with those results lol.

EDIT:  Citrical plus D not Caltrate.  It's the Citrical Petites

Yes, citracal is fine for calcium.  In your case, I'd take 10 a day for 2000 mg.

50,000 IU D3 once a week is not nearly enough if your D level was 5.  Good grief.  I've never even heard of someone being that low.  You need 50,000 IU a DAY and you are taking D3?  Not the prescription stuff?

With B12 that low, you need 25,000 mcg daily.  No wonder you're having nerve pain.  I hate to break it to you, but with B12 that low, you may well have permanent nerve damage.

Why don't we all follow the same guidelines for  vites?  Because doctors don't all bother to read the current research on them.  Like the ASMBS guidelines.

Yes, take iron. 54-63 mg per day.  I suggest carbonyl because we absorb it well and it won't constipate you.

The 50,000 is the prescription one.  Can I get 50,000 OTC?  They had never heard of anyone being that low either.  I guess it got so low from me being inside all the time when my daughter was younger.  She was always sick and we didn't go out much.  They freaked out when they got my labs back.  I have no problem taking the 50,000 a day if that will get it up.  I'm spending more time in the sun now so hopefully that helps.  

I think a trip to the neuro may be in order to see if I do have permanent nerve damage.  I still have issues with my legs even since taking the B-12.  I will ask when I go back about getting the shots.  I'm hoping my levels have gone up some but I will amp up the B-12 in the meantime.  25,000mcg daily or 2500?  I've never seen 25,000mcg B12.  

I wish more doctor's read the guidelines.  That would make life much easier for all of us post-op.  I'd rather take more than I need than not take enough.  I don't drink milk so calcium supplementation is a must.