Best Calcium & Bone Health Supplements According to ConsumerLab Tests

White Plains, NY, July 31, 2024 —  Calcium is essential to maintaining bone health and plays critical roles in nerve transmission, muscle contraction, and the cardiovascular system. Calcium supplementation can help those who don’t get enough calcium from their diets To identify the best products, ConsumerLab recently tested ten popular calcium and bone health supplements, carefully checking to see if they contained what they claimed, and whether they were contaminated with toxic metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. Tablets and caplets were tested to ensure they properly disintegrated to release their ingredients.
 

Key Findings:

• Calcium Supplement Quality: All the supplements contained their claimed amount of calcium, and the quality of most products was generally high. However, one combination supplement was Not Approved because it contained only 80.8% of its listed amount of vitamin K2.
• Calcium Dosage: There was a wide range in the dose of calcium provided by products, from 375 to 1,000 mg per suggested serving. It is generally recommended to take calcium in divided doses throughout the day as the body cannot absorb more than 500 mg at one time, and daily doses over 1,000 mg may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
• Cost: The cost to obtain 250 mg of calcium from products ranged from 4 cents to 75 cents. Products with special formulations or extra ingredients were more expensive.

Among products that passed all tests of quality and were Approved, ConsumerLab selected a Top Pick calcium supplement , and several Top Picks among bone health supplements, (containing calcium along with vitamins D and K, magnesium, and/or boron) based on quality, dosage, and value.
 

Access the Full Report:

If you are one of more than 100,000 ConsumerLab members who support ConsumerLab’s research, you can now access the full Calcium and Bone Health Supplements Review.

The report includes test results and comparisons for 10 calcium and bone health products, including gummies, capsules, and tablets. Seven products were selected for testing by ConsumerLab: AlgaeCal Plus, Bayer Citracal Petites, Caltrate Minis, Life Extension Bone Restore Calcium Supplements with Vitamin K2, Metagenics Bone Builder Forte, New Chapter Plant Calcium Bone Strength Take Care, and Solaray Calcium Citrate 1,000 mg. Three additional products passed the same testing and were Approved through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program: GNC Calcium Plus, Kirkland Signature [Costco] Adult Gummies Calcium 500 mg with D3 & Zinc- Orange & Cherry Natural Fruit Flavors, and Sundown Calcium Magnesium & Zinc.

The Review also explains the pros and cons of different forms of calcium, including calcium carbonate, citrate, malate and hydroxyapatite, as well as "plant-based" calcium such as Aquamin and AlgaeCal (derived from algae). The review also discusses the best way to take calcium supplements, the risks of getting too much calcium from supplements, and potential side effects and drug interactions with calcium supplements, as well as how to get calcium from foods. It also examines the clinical evidence for calcium supplements for maintaining strong bones and preventing fractures, and its effects on cardiovascular health and age-related macular degeneration.

A video that explains who may or may not need a calcium supplement, and expert tips for selecting the best calcium or bone health supplement is also available.

Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to continually updated reviews of nearly every popular type of dietary supplement and health food, answers to reader questions, and product recalls and warnings. ConsumerLab also provides independent product testing through its voluntary Quality Certification Program. The company is privately held and based in New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.

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