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What Is Calcium Citrate Used for?

While you may not know what calcium citrate is, you may recognize the mineral from brand-name products like Citracal and Citracal Liquitabs. Calcium citrate is the well-known form of the mineral calcium, which is critical to building and maintaining the skeletal structure. The bones are like cells in that they are constantly regenerating themselves, so it is just as important that the bones keep regrowing as it is that they stay strong. Calcium citrate does both of these things.

  1. Calcium Citrate Supplements

    • Calcium citrate is found in dietary supplements, usually in the form of a pill. It is a kind of calcium that is not readily available in the foods we eat.

    Calcium Citrate Versus Calcium Carbonate

    • Calcium citrate causes the formation of more acid in the stomach, which in turn creates a more nourishing environment for the calcium to be absorbed. Calcium carbonate is the form of calcium that is alkaline and found in products that you may recognize, including Tums and Nature's Made. It is also available in pill form.

    Recommended Daily Allowance

    • Depending on your age, the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of calcium citrate changes. For children the RDA is 800 mg, and for adults, it is 1,200 mg.

    Why Calcium Citrate?

    • Calcium citrate is the best-absorbed form of calcium because the best environment for calcium and its absorption into the bones is an acidic one.

    Warnings

    • If you have stomach aches that are often caused by an acidic stomach, it is best not to take this form of the mineral, because it will just add to the discomfort in the stomach. In this case, calcium carbonate would be a better choice.

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