Getting It Straight on Calcium Citrate.

It isn't easy to find calcium citrate in the store. It also isn't cheap. But oh how we bariatric dietitians urge you to go with calcium citrate versus the more affordable and freakishly easy to find--carbonate form.

Optimistic me hopes that one day that will change. So I'm always on the look-out for calcium citrate on store shelves.

Imagine my delight when I was at a national surplus store and I saw a box of Citracal chewies for sale!

As per my geekish habit, I flipped the box over to double check the form of calcium. To my shock and horror it was calcium carbonate!!!

I wondered if others had picked up the package and thought, "Citra-cal sounds sort of like 'citrate'-- must be what I need!"

Maybe the rest of you are more eagle-eyed than me. Maybe you are never fooled by food packages.

But if you are sometimes just in a big blessed hurry and just throw things in the cart--slow down when it comes to the calcium.

"But Elizabeth, do I really need to trouble myself with citrate anyway? Why not just get the yummy chews in the brown little tub?"

There is a reason to go citrate instead of carbonate, and here it is.

Weight loss surgery patients need calcium because bone loss is almost always greater than new bone formation, after surgery. Even with supplements!

Since the stomach is smaller after all weight loss surgeries/procedures--it also has fewer cells producing acid. Calcium needs acid to be absorbed. Registered Dietitians recommend the citrate form of calcium because research shows it's better absorbed (about 25% more absorption) than other forms in a low acid stomach.

But it's not as simple as that. (You knew that was coming, didn't you?) If you cannot STAND the taste of the citrate form, if you will NOT spend that amount of money on a supplement, then by all means, please take the carbonate form.

Any form of calcium is better than none!

Remember, most patients need about 1500 milligrams a day-- spread out in doses of no more than 500 milligrams each.

Here's to your savvy shopping, your strong bones and your continued journey to health!