The anytime one
Calcium citrate
Absorbs well with or without food. The better pick if you have low stomach acid or take acid reducers.
Good for: Strong bones · Everyday use
What variations of calcium exist?
The main mineral in bones and teeth. It also helps muscles contract, nerves signal, and blood clot. Most people do best getting much of it from food. It comes in 5 forms, and they aren't all the same. Here's how they differ.
For education only. What's right for you depends on your health and your medications, so check with your provider before you start or switch. Book a consult
Our top pick
- Also consider
- Easy on the stomach: the gentle one (Calcium bisglycinate (chelated))
- Budget-friendly: the with-meals one (Calcium carbonate)
Every form, in plain words
The anytime one
Calcium citrate
Absorbs well with or without food. The better pick if you have low stomach acid or take acid reducers.
Good for: Strong bones · Everyday use
The gentle one
Calcium bisglycinate (chelated)
Your body absorbs it well and it's easy on digestion, but it's bulky, so you may need more capsules.
Good for: Easy on the stomach
The bone-mineral one
Microcrystalline hydroxyapatite (MCHC)
Made from bone, so it also gives you phosphorus and other bone minerals.
The with-meals one
Calcium carbonate
Inexpensive and concentrated, but needs stomach acid, so take it with food. More likely to cause constipation and gas.
Good for: Budget-friendly
Usually skip
- The unrefined ones (Oyster shell, coral, dolomite, or bone meal)These rough sources have been found to contain lead and other contaminants.
Spotting a good one on the shelf
Look for
- Look for 'Calcium citrate' on the label (the anytime one)
Watch out for
- The label gives the weight of the whole compound instead of how much calcium you actually get
- Oyster shell, coral, dolomite, or bone meal with no testing for heavy metals
- Calcium adding up from a multi, a bone formula, antacids, and fortified foods
Check with your provider first if…
- You take thyroid medicine like levothyroxine. Calcium blocks it, so take them at least 4 hours apart.
- You take an iron supplement. Calcium lowers iron absorption, so take them at different times.
- You take certain antibiotics (such as doxycycline or ciprofloxacin) or a bone-loss medicine like alendronate. Take them at different times.
- You've had kidney stones, high blood calcium, or parathyroid problems, or you take a thiazide 'water pill'
- Some studies link high-dose calcium pills, unlike calcium from food, with heart and artery concerns. Ask whether you need a supplement at all.
In Dr. Lesher's store
6 products in Dr. Lesher's dispensary have calcium. Here's which form, where the label says.
Check with your provider before taking any of these, especially if you're pregnant or take medications.
Integrative Therapeutics
Liquid Calcium Magnesium Berry 1:1
Has citrate (the anytime one), good for strong bones
500 mg per serving
Integrative Therapeutics
Liquid Calcium Magnesium Orange-Vanilla 2:1
Has citrate (the anytime one), good for strong bones
600 mg per serving
Professional Health Products
ExcEss
292 mg per serving
Seeking Health
Vitamin C Plus
30 mg per serving
Designs for Health
C+BioFizz Effervescent Powder
10 mg per serving
DaVinci Labs
Estro Benefits
25 mg per serving
Ready to find the root cause?
Dr. Lesher is a Naturopathic Doctor who focuses on autoimmune and chronic conditions in women. Since 2020, she's helped hundreds of patients stop managing symptoms and start healing.