Calcium citrates

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Calcium absorption after stomach surgery²

  In people who had gastric bypass, calcium citrate got more calcium into the blood than calcium carbonate did.

• No harm found

  Bone health after stomach surgery³

  In people who had gastric bypass, calcium citrate did not lower parathyroid hormone more than calcium carbonate.

• Benefit

  Bone breakdown⁴

  In young women, calcium citrate was absorbed well and lowered a hormone that drives bone breakdown.

Animal and lab studies only

• Open question

  Bone loss in space⁷

  In animal studies, calcium citrate with collagen peptides did not stop bone loss, though it helped some bone structure.

Study type not stated

• Open question

  Heart risk from calcium⁶

  Scientists do not yet know whether calcium citrate raises heart risk, though it briefly lifts blood calcium more than dairy does.

How it’s made and used

• Blood calcium levels⁵

  Calcium citrate raised blood calcium for hours after each dose, and this did not lessen after 3 months.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.