NOW Foods Calcium Carbonate

Name: NOW Foods Calcium Carbonate
Brand: NOW Foods
SKU: 733739012456
Price: 8.99 GBP
Availability: InStock

Brands: NOW Foods

£8.99

Supplemental calcium from NOW Foods — 340 grams per pack, no fuss.

Why people take it

Calcium is needed for the maintenance of normal bones and teeth
Calcium contributes to normal muscle function
Calcium contributes to normal neurotransmission

How to use

Take as directed on the pack, ideally with food and at the same time each day.

Good to know

Format: powder
Caffeine free

A food supplement, not a substitute for a varied diet and healthy lifestyle. Do not exceed the stated dose. Keep out of reach of children.

Quantity

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Categories : Caffeine-Free Supplements, Calcium Supplements, Everyday Health Supplements, NOW Foods, Vitamins & Supplements

SKU: 733739012456

At a glance

£0.04

per daily dose

Moderate

evidence for calcium

Our honest take

Pure calcium carbonate powder with nothing else added: half a level teaspoon gives 600 mg of calcium, three-quarters of the daily NRV. At under 5p a day it is the cheapest way to take calcium we sell. The trade-offs are that carbonate needs to be taken with food to absorb well, it can cause wind or constipation, and you have to measure it yourself; most people who eat dairy or fortified foods do not need extra calcium at all.

You eat little dairy or fortified food and want a low-cost calcium top-up
You are happy to stir a powder into juice or food
You want a single-ingredient product with no fillers
You take acid-reducing medicines or have low stomach acid: calcium citrate absorbs better
You take thyroxine, bisphosphonates, some antibiotics or iron: calcium must be taken at a different time, so check with your pharmacist
You have had kidney stones or high blood calcium, without speaking to your GP

The science

Calcium· evidence: Moderate

Calcium is the main mineral in bones and teeth and is also needed for muscles, nerves and blood clotting. Adults need about 700 mg a day in the UK, which most people get from dairy, fortified plant milks, tofu, bread made with fortified flour and green vegetables.

Calcium supplements help people whose diets are genuinely low, for example some vegans or people who avoid dairy, and are sometimes prescribed with vitamin D for people with osteoporosis. For well-fed adults, reviews have found that extra calcium makes little difference to fracture risk.

Food is the preferred source. Different forms (carbonate, citrate) give different amounts of elemental calcium; citrate is easier to absorb without food.

Authorised health claim
Calcium is needed for the maintenance of normal bones. Calcium is needed for the maintenance of normal teeth. Calcium contributes to normal muscle function. Calcium contributes to normal blood clotting. (Applies where a daily dose gives at least 15% of the NRV, i.e. 120 mg.)

Typical dose: Adults need 700 mg a day from all sources (NRV on labels: 800 mg). Supplements usually give 200 to 1,000 mg.

Safety: The FSA advises that 1,500 mg a day or less from supplements is unlikely to cause harm. High doses can cause constipation and wind. Calcium reduces absorption of some medicines (such as thyroxine, some antibiotics and bisphosphonates) and iron, so take them at different times and check with a pharmacist. People with a history of kidney stones or high blood calcium should speak to their GP.

Research we looked at:
NHS. Calcium. nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/calcium
Bolland MJ, Leung W, Tai V, et al. Calcium intake and risk of fracture: systematic review. BMJ 2015;351:h4580.
EFSA NDA Panel. Scientific opinion on the tolerable upper intake level of calcium. EFSA Journal 2012;10(7):2814.

Ingredients & nutrition

Ingredients: calcium carbonate. Nothing else added.

Per daily dose (1/2 level teaspoon, 1.7 g): calcium 600 mg (75% NRV), from 1,700 mg calcium carbonate. 340 g tub, about 200 daily doses.

Dietary: suitable for vegans.

Always check the pack you receive, as manufacturers sometimes update recipes.

How to use

Take 1/2 level teaspoon a day with a meal, mixed into a thick juice such as orange or tomato. Keep at least 2 hours apart from iron, thyroxine and some antibiotics. Do not exceed the stated daily dose.

Price per dose & how it compares

Product	Size	Price	Per daily dose
This product	340 grams	£8.99	£0.04
NOW Foods Calcium Citrate Pure Powder		from £12.99	£0.17
NOW Foods Calcium Lactate		from £16.99	£0.20
Osavi Calcium Citrate		from £16.99	£0.33

Cost per daily dose lets you compare packs of different sizes fairly.Worked out from our current prices.

Food supplements should not replace a varied, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. General information, not medical advice. Speak to your GP or pharmacist first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition or take medication.