Calcium citrate
vs calcium carbonate: which is a better choice
Calcium citrate
is superior to calcium carbonate as a nutritional supplement in the treatment and prevention of bone loss, according to a
study reported in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. Three criteria were used to determine calcium availability:
serum calcium, urinary calcium, and serum parathyroid hormone (PTH). Twenty-five postmenopausal women each underwent
three phases of study: calcium citrate with breakfast, calcium carbonate with breakfast, placebo with breakfast. Compared
with calcium carbonate, calcium citrate resulted in a 46% greater increase in serum calcium, and a 41% greater increase in
urinary calcium. Moreover, calcium citrate resulted in a 50% greater suppression of serum PTH compared to calcium carbonate.
This suggests that calcium citrate is more easily absorbed.
source: Heller HJ, et al.
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic comparison of two calcium supplements in postmenopausal women. J Clin Pharm 2000
(40):1237-1212.
