Is there a safer form of calcium? One that works better than others?
Most would probably say that safer, more effective form would be calcium citrate. Unfortunately, they’d be wrong.
There’s something much better, and a whole lot of research to back this up.
Also known as calcium citrate malate, calcium citramate is formed when the chelating agent malic acid is introduced to calcium citrate. It is one of the most bioavailable forms of calcium supplements. (Bioavailable means the amount of a supplement that reaches the blood stream.)
The reason calcium citramate is more bioavalable is twofold: for one, it is water soluble. Which means that (unlike calcium carbonate) it doesn’t require stomach acid to dissolve and therefore doesn’t need to be taken with meals. Secondly, once dissolved, it releases calcium ions and a calcium citrate complex. The calcium ions are absorbed directly into the cells of the intestines, and the citrate complex passes into the bloodstream through passive paracellular absorption. This is a better method of absorption as it doesn’t require energy from the body.
Multiple studies have shown that calcium citramate is better absorbed than carbonate or even regular citrate:
Miller, 1988: Calcium absorption from calcium carbonate and a new form of calcium (CCM [Citramate]) in healthy male and female adolescents. Absorption for carbonate was 26.4% (+/- 2.2%); for Citramate it was 36.2% (+/- 2.7%).
Smith, 1987: Calicum absorption from a new calcium delivery system (CCM [Citramate]). Found citramate to be, “absorbed significantly better than from calcium carbonate or milk.”
This heavily-referenced article compares multiple forms of calcium supplementation and states citramate to be better absorbed than citramate or carbonate. It examines evidence on other forms of calcium and concludes none have been sufficiently studied and proven to have the same bioavailability as citramate.
Effects On Bone Health
This study from the September, 1990 New England Journal of Medicine found calcium citramate more effective than carbonate at preventing bone loss.
In 1993 this study was published in the Journal of the Amercian Medical Association finding calcium citramate, “resulted in significant increases in total body and spinalbone density in adolescent girls.”
In 2008 Purdue University published Advances In Food and Nutrition Research, which included a chapter reviewing the published health benefits of calcium citramate. Citramate was found to promote the consolidation and maintenance of bone mass, (with vitamin D) to reduce the risk of fractures in the elderly, and is the only form of calcium supplement shown to decrease the risk of kidney stones.
Taking into account not just absorption rates but also documented effects on bone health, as well as safety in regards to heart risks and kidney stones, aProven Product recommends you take a calcium supplement in the form of calcium citramate, along with a handful of supporting ingredients. To learn more about the product we currently recommend, click here.
