My wife wants to add a calcium supplement to her diet. She has been fighting ovarian cancer, and it seems that the chemo and/or steroids have weakened her bones. In fact, she recently tripped, rolled over the top of her foot, and broke two toes on her left foot. The x-rays showed possible osteoporosis developing.

We live overseas, but will probably purchase some kind of over the counter supplement from the US.

We've heard about calcium MCHA with magnesium, and then take vitamin D separately, from another cancer patient. But, the more we research on the internet, the more confused we get. We've also hear about some kinds of injections, but also that they can make your bones strong but brittle.

Anyone have information about this or a pointer to a web site?

>>the more we research on the internet, the more confused we get

you're probably overanalyzing it.

Calcium with Vitamin D

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My wife uses Costco calcium plus D. One thing to consider is overdosing. The safe upper limit of calcium is 2500 mg through age 50 and 2000 mg from 51 and older. This is from the most recent Consumers Reports. They reference the Institute of Medicine at NIH. They do indicate that people with specific medical conditions might need more, based on a physician's recommendation.

Don't waste your money on calcium citrate supplements. Calcium carbonate supplements are just as good.

The "selling" point of the citrate supplements, is that carbonates are not very soluble in water. However, the ph of the stomach is quite low because there is hydrochloric acid in the stomach. This totally changes things. The sellers of the citrate supplements are preying upon people who have taken high school chemistry and remember that carbonates are generally insoluble in water. Run your own experiment. Grind up two calcium carbonate pills. Put each pill in a separate glass. In one glass, pour some water, in the other glass, pour some vinegar. Case closed.

TUMS (and generic) have 750 mg of calcium carbonate per tablet. That's more than some calcium tablets.

Also, Google Fosamax and look for all the bad reactions.

Well, my Dietician (clinical dietician at Kaiser) says citrate, never carbonate. She also says the body can only absorb 500mg at a time, so to get the 1500 you need, you must spread them out during the day.

Kate

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I take calcium supplements, along with a multivitamin. Other than broccoli, which I don't eat on a daily basis, I don't know how much calcium I take by food, but probably not very much!

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San Antonio, TX (in the old city)

"All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing."
-- Edmund Burke
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." Theodore Roosevelt (1918)

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Rolando
I don't know how much calcium I take by food, but probably not very much!

Milk, yoghurt, cheese and other dairy products are high in calcium. Most beans and nuts have a bit and any of those fish you eat with bones are very high. A good balanced diet should give you more than enough calcium for normal needs.

Paul

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The MDR is 1000 mg. One TUM is 750.

Thanks all. I appreciate the good advice.

If she has had some fractures, she should probably get a DEXA Bone Density scan. She should also have her Vitamin D level checked (simple blood test) to find out how much of that supplementation she needs as well.

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DavidS
If she has had some fractures, she should probably get a DEXA Bone Density scan. She should also have her Vitamin D level checked (simple blood test) to find out how much of that supplementation she needs as well.

Thanks. I think that both are on the schedule.

Vitamin D, lots of calcium rich foods, and lift weights.
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Does your wife drink soda? If so, she needs to stop, as the phosphorous is leaching away calcium. Green tea has been found to be beneficial for bone remodeling in some studies, and she could incorporate some into her daily diet.

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Le poète doit vivre beaucoup, vivre dans tous les sens. - Verlaine

With all the meds she has to take, your wife's needs are probably way out of the "normal diet" range. The tests she's going for should help point her in the right direction. The Vitamin D may turn out to be just as or more important than the type of calcium.

For me, I take calcium citrate, magnesium, and Vitamin D. From time to time I try others, but this combo seems to work best for me. You can find liquid forms, or powders to mix with liquid, that may be easier to swallow — some calcium pills are huge! I disagree with freeradical: calcium carbonate may be fine as far as absorption is concerned, but not everyone can take it without digestive problems (it has a 'binding' effect for many, and can cause gas as well). Also, IIRC, the carbonate form must be taken with food.

This may sound a little off the wall, but does your wife like prunes? There have been a couple of studies (small ones, though) that indicate prunes may have a protective or even re-building effect on bone density. In one at FSU, all the study participants took calcium and Vitamin D for a year, but the ones who ate prunes instead of dried apples had significantly better bone density scores. I figure, they're not drugs, they taste good, so why not?

Best wishes to you both!

I don't know the details, but I think you need magnesium along with calcium.

Most likely she is getting enough calcium but likely her vitamin D3 is inadequate given that she is wisely most likely staying out of the sun. Marc Anthony and Dennis S have the correct answers. Serum phosphorus and serum calcium parallel each other. Too much phosphorus will mean calcium will leach from her bones so keep the dietary phosphorus very low. And you need magnesium to build bone. Magnesium, and to a lesser extent calcium, can interact with other medicines so check that out.

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/2012 10:18PM by Speedy.

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voodoopenguin

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Rolando
I don't know how much calcium I take by food, but probably not very much!

Milk, yoghurt, cheese and other dairy products are high in calcium. Most beans and nuts have a bit and any of those fish you eat with bones are very high. A good balanced diet should give you more than enough calcium for normal needs.

Paul

Other than cheese, which again I don't eat daily, I don't like dairy (it gives me the runs)

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San Antonio, TX (in the old city)

"All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing."
-- Edmund Burke
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." Theodore Roosevelt (1918)