Most Chinese are familiar with calcium supplements. Calcium deficiency is common among Chinese people, and calcium supplementation has become an important part of their daily routine.
Elderly people and children, tend to be the main group of calcium supplementation. In the evening to the square around, ask the square dance is dancing the aunties, you will find that, when it comes to calcium supplementation aunties are said to be the head of the road.
There are really a lot of calcium products on the market, and different brands of calcium tablets are on the shelves. Promoters will say that their own brand is good, high absorption rate, calcium effect. But we can't listen to the promoters when we buy calcium tablets, after all, they are professionally trained by the manufacturers to sell their goods.
Some brands of calcium preparations, is the form of liquid calcium. This time also some people will say that liquid calcium is more easily absorbed by the body. In fact, when choosing calcium tablets, liquid calcium is not the main indicator of buying calcium tablets.
Choosing calcium tablets, calcium preparations are not limited to whether it is liquid calcium or solid calcium, these are forms of calcium preparations. The main thing to look for when buying calcium tablets is the amount of elemental calcium in the calcium preparation and the absorption rate.
Calcium preparations, how to choose?
Calcium supplement products, definitely contain elemental calcium, except that the amount of elemental calcium varies from one calcium preparation to another. There is even a huge difference in the amount of calcium between some calcium supplements. Some preparations may contain 300 milligrams of calcium in one capsule, while some calcium preparations may contain less than 100 milligrams of calcium in one bottle.
Difference between organic and inorganic calcium
Calcium preparations, although there are many brands, can be categorized into two main groups: organic calcium and inorganic calcium. Organic calcium is characterized by a high absorption rate and does not irritate the gastrointestinal tract. Inorganic calcium, on the other hand, is characterized by possible irritation of the gastrointestinal tract and is not suitable for the elderly and children.
Calcium carbonate
Calcium carbonate, the main ingredient in many brands of calcium supplements. You are familiar with brands such as BY-HEALTH Liquid Calcium, Calcium Erqi, and Diqiao, the main ingredient of calcium supplement products is calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is an inorganic calcium that is relatively inexpensive, but calcium carbonate is characterized by a higher content of elemental calcium, generally around 40%, and is also the calcium supplement products in the calcium content of the leader.
Because calcium carbonate is inorganic calcium, it may be irritating to the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, when taking calcium preparations with calcium carbonate content, it is best to take them with meals.
Calcium citrate characteristics
Calcium citrate is organic calcium, and you are familiar with brands such as SWISSE and Childhood Time, whose calcium supplements use calcium citrate as the main ingredient. Calcium citrate is organic calcium, which does not irritate the gastrointestinal tract. The absorption rate of calcium citrate is higher than that of calcium carbonate, but the price is a bit expensive.
Calcium citrate does not irritate the gastrointestinal tract, so you can take calcium citrate before or after meals. The downside of calcium citrate is that the calcium content is a bit low, only half that of calcium carbonate.
Calcium Gluconate Characteristics
Calcium Gluconate may be more familiar to the public. Back in the day on TV is often see this product ads, the ads also deliberately emphasize the blue bottle. This calcium supplement product and how is it? In fact, it's really not great, except that back then we were all fooled.
Calcium gluconate, also organic calcium, is suitable for children to take. However, it is important to emphasize that calcium gluconate is very low in calcium, and to what extent? The calcium content is only 9%. If you want to rely on Calcium Gluconate as a calcium supplement, then be prepared to drink a lot of it. Drinking less won't help at all.
Calcium Lactate Characteristics
Calcium lactate, often, is used in calcium supplements for children. Some children's drinks, which are advertised as a calcium supplement for children, are usually made with calcium lactate. Calcium lactate is also a kind of organic calcium, except that the calcium contained in calcium lactate, a little low, less cost-effective.
Children's drinks with added calcium lactate, although more or less can play a role in calcium supplementation for children, but these drinks often contain more sugar. Choosing such calcium supplement products is a bit of a ? picking up the sesame seeds and losing the watermelon?
Characteristics of milk calcium
Lacto-calcium, looking at the name as if it is related to milk, some people think that the calcium is extracted from milk. In fact, milk calcium, there is another name is milk mineral salts, also called whey calcium, need to be broken down under the action of stomach acid to be utilized. As a result, the absorption rate of milk calcium is not high.
In 2012, a brand of milk was taken off the shelves because of the addition of milk mineral salts to children's milk. Milk mineral salts, are strictly prohibited from being added to children's food under the age of three. For infants and young children, products containing milk mineral salts are not recommended.
What kind of calcium tablets should I take?
After learning about the ingredients in calcium supplement products, you may have memorized that calcium carbonate has one of the best calcium contents. At this time, you should also pay attention to the absorption rate of calcium preparations, and choose products with high absorption rate and high calcium content is the king. For seniors over 60 and children, calcium citrate is a better choice. For adults, calcium carbonate is more cost-effective and more suitable for calcium supplementation.