Guide To The Most Common Vitamin Supplements

Calcium

Calcium is a vital mineral for the growth and maintenance of healthy teeth and bones. Adequate calcium helps maintain bone density, and it reduces the risk of osteoporosis. In addition, calcium is involved in blood clotting, regulating heart rhythm, releasing hormones, and sending and receiving nerve signals. Doctors often recommend that older adults take a calcium supplement to maintain their bone health. Calcium citrate and calcium carbonate are the two major forms of the supplement that are readily available. Of the two, calcium citrate is the most expensive. Patients can take it on an empty stomach or with a meal. Calcium carbonate is slightly cheaper, and doctors recommend taking it with food to maximize absorption.

Experts suggest a daily calcium intake of one thousand milligrams for adults who are younger than fifty years old. Women between fifty and seventy years old need 1,200 milligrams per day. All adults who are seventy-one years old or older need 1,200 milligrams each day. Doctors recommend taking calcium in doses of five hundred milligrams or less at one time for the easiest absorption. Calcium supplements could increase the risk of kidney stones in some individuals. Thus, patients may want to check with their doctor before starting daily calcium supplements.

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