Coral Calcium Dangers

Coral calcium gained popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s as an alternative to more traditional calcium supplements due mostly to two books written by Dr. Robert Barefoot (Doctor as in PhD, not MD) and subsequent infomercials.
Since the introduction of coral calcium to the market it has been exposed as not only an overpriced scam, but also as posing possible health risks.

FDA Approval

• When dealing with any type of herbal supplement, it is important to remember that there are very few regulations in place by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
  These substances are considered neither a food nor a drug, so they are not required to go through the same approval process before being placed on the market in the United States.
  The FDA website states, "Generally, manufacturers do not need to register their products with the FDA nor get FDA approval before producing or selling dietary supplements." The administration goes on to explain that they get involved when it is brought to their attention that a substance is unsafe or the marketing is misleading.
  With this in mind, taking any of these herbal supplements poses a risk, and coral calcium is no different.

Lead

• A 2003 study by ConsumerLab reports that Barefoot's own product, Coral Calcium Supreme, has a lead content of 2.5 micrograms per gram.
  This was a problem in calcium supplements of the past made from oyster shells. The issue has been addressed by the FDA in products already on the market, but new supplements are not tested, again due to very loose regulations placed on dietary supplements.
  According to Dr. Stephen Barret M.D., the level of 2.5 micrograms per gram is not likely to affect a healthy adult taking the supplement, but could cause problems for an unborn or nursing baby if the mother is taking the supplement.

Too Much Calcium

• Like many other vital nutrients, calcium has a negative effect on the body if you consume too much. This is a fact that Barefoot and other manufacturers of coral calcium seem to ignore.
  Many of the advertisements speak of ancient civilizations where the people were exceptionally healthy and consumed up to 40 times the amount of calcium recommended by the Institute of Medicine.
  That amount is 2,500 milligrams per day, and exceeding that amount can lead to painful kidney stones.
  If you are unsure of the amount of calcium you should be consuming, speak to your doctor for guidance.

Dangerous Misconceptions

• While lawsuits have stopped manufacturers from making these claims, you may still have heard that the supplement can cure cancer and other serious illnesses.
  This is simply untrue. There is no scientific evidence to support such claims. It is these out right false claims that have launched legal action against Barefoot and others involved in the marketing of coral calcium in both the United States and Great Britain.
  If you have a serious illness, the best help will come from a physician or other trusted health professional. Their advice should not be discounted on behalf of a late night infomercial.

The Bottom Line

• Aside from the risks that coral calcium may pose to your body, it is also harsh on your wallet.
  The makers of the product advertise that it is worth the cost because it provides more nutrients than a typical calcium supplement.
  While doctors agree that there are trace amounts of other nutrients found in coral calcium, there is nothing in coral calcium that you cannot get in a standard multivitamin, except of course the lead mentioned above. A multivitamin will also have the proper amounts of these other minerals and nutrients as opposed to trace amounts that may not do you any good, while being easier on your bank account.