Any doctors out there? Question about calcium supplement

[Ferrousfumerate1]

Hi

I take Calcium Citrate (Accrete) x 2 a day for borderline osteopenia.

I've stupidly been taking them together - I can tolerate them and I thought this was the issue.

Then I read that the body can only absorb up to 500mg at a time (one pill worth).

Have I lessened the impact by half?

Not a medic but had severe osteopenia but my bones are now normal.

Is this prescription calcium? the advice is no more than 400mgs at once. So all you need do is take the 2 tablets at different times of day.

Calcium on its own is no good- you need a calcium & magnesium supplement and enough Vit D as well.

Having said that, there have been reports recently of the danger of using calcium supplements- some evidence they can cause hardening of the arteries- and not actually help bone density.

I take 400mgs a day of Osteocare only because I am slightly dairy intolerant and usually don't get enough through diet.

If you only have a slight loss of bone density you could help yourself more by doing resistance type exercises (for spine, hips, wrists) and improving your calcium intake through diet.

You need calcium in your system to build bone but exercise is the best way to stimulate new bone growth.

ps

That product is not calcium citrate- it's calcium carbonate.

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/10/161011182621.htm

There is also no evidence that for young people using supplements, it helps bones.

see here
www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h4183

Thanks for the answer.

Oh, I thought it was calcium citrate. You're right. Silly me.

Accrete has D3 in it and my recent Vit D levels were fine. I don't take a magnesium supplement. It is prescribed, yes, and as I said I have been taking them together...my question was whether it has lessened the impact?

I do a LOT of exercise. That's not my concern. And I'm not young! 48.

Yes it may have, just take them separately from now on. One in ten morning, one at night.

Do you drink milk? Eat yoghurt and cheese? Need to drink about a pint and another form of calcium a day if so just need to take the vit d

OP read the links. It says that taking calcium as supplements doesn't build bone much after the first year. I was diagnosed with osteopenia about 12 years ago - read loads about it and had medical advice.
I've now got normal bones, not through supplements but exercise.
Where is your bone density low? if it's your hips there are exercises to do, and same if it's your spine.

48 is young.The research on calcium supplements showed it may work for women over 65 but not under.

Unfortunately GPs dish out calcium supps without really knowing new research has showed the downside and how they are mainly only of any use to the elderly who can't exercise, get outside for Vit D and have poor diets.

And yes, if you take 1000 mgs at once, your body won't absorb it all. The evidence is it's best to get the calcium via food and / or in small amounts over the day.

Sorry, PP, I was on my phone and couldn't read the links. Amazing you reversed your osteopenia. Really, well done.

My T score was -1.0 for spine (borderline) and -1.4 for hip. So, below average but not terrible. I've got another scan this week, incidentally, so it will be interesting to see how it's developed or reversed.

Where did you learn your specific exercises?

My hips were -2.1 (osteoporosis is below -2.5)
I bought a book from the National Osteoporosis Society on strength exercises that target each area. mainly side leg lifts with ankle weights, lunges and squats, plus plenty of daily walking up hills ( 3 miles a time.) You've got to keep at it because they only do new scans every 2- 3 years.

Can anyone help please, I am taking Calcium,Magnesium and vitamin D3 im age 50, I take it for my bones and I have just seen the Doc and he seemed quite cross that I have taken it upon myself to take these Vitamins and said I should have seen a Doc first as it could be doing me harm???

@ Ricola37 did the GP not give you any indication why he thought you might be harming yourself? I'm also trying to maintain my bone density by taking vitamin d and calcium but I'm also taking vitamin K2, which directs the calcium to the bones rather than other parts of the body, such as the arteries, where calcium might build up and cause a blockage. it didn't occur to me to visit the GP first.

Has your GP told you what he thinks you should be doing instead?

No he just said go for a blood test and check calcium levels but I said surely it wont be a true reading as I'm taking supplements, he said no it wont and gave me the forms anyway....I will look at the Vit K2. I dont have a lot of faith in the Docs anyway.

Your GP would hate me!

I've had a quick Google and this is one of the many links to advice re vitamin K2. It's not as detailed as some but still useful.
articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2019/03/04/health-benefits-of-vitamin-k2.aspx