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Calcium Citrate

Nature's Way
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(2258 ratings)
Calcium 500 mg
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Score82
Citrate and malate make the calcium blend more appealing than carbonate alone. Repeated source quantities create avoidable uncertainty about the exact composition.
How scoring works
Quantity:100 Capsule(s) • (50 servings)
Goals:
Bone Health

Score 82

Citrate and malate make the calcium blend more appealing than carbonate alone. Repeated source quantities create avoidable uncertainty about the exact composition.
How scoring works
$12.49($0.24 per serving)
Vitacost
$ 12.49
Vitacost
$ 12.49
iHerb
$ 12.49
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Analysis

A blend of calcium citrate, malate, and carbonate provides more form diversity than a single carbonate product. Citrate and malate add flexibility, while the intended serving amount is appropriate for one dose.

The supplied label presents the same quantity alongside each calcium source, creating uncertainty about how much each form contributes to total elemental calcium. Clearer allocation would make the formula easier to compare and dose confidently.

The capsule format may work for users who prioritize form quality and manage vitamin D separately. It remains a calcium-focused formula without broader bone-support cofactors.

Who is it for
  • Adults seeking a mixed-form calcium supplement
  • People who prefer citrate and malate in the form mix
  • Users who obtain vitamin D elsewhere
Best for
  • Moderate calcium supplementation
  • Form diversity
  • Users avoiding an all-carbonate formula

Pros

  • Includes citrate and malate
  • Serving is intended to fit one dose
  • All three calcium sources are named

Cons

  • Contribution from each calcium source is ambiguous
  • Includes some food-dependent carbonate
  • No vitamin D, vitamin K, or magnesium

Warnings

  • Calcium can reduce levothyroxine absorption, so follow the medication instructions for spacing the doses.
  • Separate calcium from tetracycline or quinolone antibiotics by the interval stated by the prescriber or pharmacist.
  • Supplemental calcium can cause constipation or bloating; dividing intake may improve tolerance when the label permits it.
  • Calcium carbonate generally works best with food and may be less dependable when stomach acid is low or acid-suppressing medicine is used.

Nutrient quality

89 Highest impact

Citrate and malate raise form quality above carbonate-only products. The calcium amount is well sized, though the formula remains narrow and the repeated listing needs clearer interpretation.

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Ingredient transparency

77 High impact

Active amounts and serving counts are mostly clear from the supplied label facts. Missing non-active ingredients and complete directions leave practical disclosure gaps.

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Customer satisfaction

73 High impact

The aggregate rating is strong and supported by a very large feedback volume. Specific experience details are missing, so recurring problems and purpose fit remain uncertain.

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Value for money

88 Highest impact

The stronger form mix provides good quality for the cost. Serving value is good for a citrate-and-malate calcium blend.

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Goals

Bone Health
Impact
High effect
B+ Goal FitA- Strength of SupportD+ CoverageA- Formula Quality
Calcium · 500 mg

A 500 mg calcium serving directly supplies the main structural mineral in bone. Citrate and malate improve the form mix, while carbonate is less flexible for people with low stomach acid.

The serving is within the amount typically absorbed efficiently at one time and all forms are named. The formula remains narrow because it lacks vitamin D, vitamin K, magnesium, and protein-matrix support.

Study evidence
Calcium Supportive 144 studies

Ingredients

IngredientAmount per serving
Calcium (Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Citrate, Calcium Malate)
500 mg
Gluten Free Adults 18–50 Dairy Free
Report overview
A- Active Ingredient Quality & BioavailabilityA+ Dose, Safety & Label TransparencyA+ Value

The blend combines calcium malate and citrate with carbonate, giving it better form quality than carbonate alone. Its 500 mg serving is efficiently sized and the elemental amount is clearly stated. No concerning additives are shown, and the serving cost falls in the strongest value tier.

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Sources

Published studies used for the product analysis and the top-ranked studies for each ingredient and goal.

  1. Associations of dietary calcium intake with metabolic syndrome and bone mineral density among the Korean population: KNHANES 2008-2011.
    Kim MK; Chon SJ; Noe EB; Roh YH; Yun BH; Cho S; Choi YS; Lee BS; Seo SK · Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA · 2018
    Cross-sectional study14,705 participantsBone Health forCalcium
  2. Calcium and osteoporosis.
    Nordin BE · Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) · 1998
    Meta-analysis20 studies pooledBone Health forCalcium
  3. Calcium supplementation and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women using estrogen replacement therapy.
    Haines CJ; Chung TK; Leung PC; Hsu SY; Leung DH · Bone · 1995
    Randomized trialBone Health forCalcium
  4. Relationship between bone mineral density changes and risk of fractures among patients receiving calcium with or without vitamin D supplementation: a meta-regression.
    Rabenda V; Bruyère O; Reginster JY · Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA · 2011
    Meta-analysis47,365 participants15 studies pooledBone Health forCalcium
  5. Treatment with alendronate plus calcium, alendronate alone, or calcium alone for postmenopausal low bone mineral density.
    Bonnick S; Broy S; Kaiser F; Teutsch C; Rosenberg E; DeLucca P; Melton M · Current medical research and opinion · 2007
    Randomized trial701 participantsBone Health forCalcium
  6. What is the impact of daily oral supplementation of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) plus calcium on the incidence of hip fracture in older people? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
    Manoj P; Derwin R; George S · International journal of older people nursing · 2023
    Meta-analysis12,620 participants7 studies pooledBone Health forCalcium
  7. Calcium supplementation prevents seasonal bone loss and changes in biochemical markers of bone turnover in elderly New England women: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.
    Storm D; Eslin R; Porter ES; Musgrave K; Vereault D; Patton C; Kessenich C; Mohan S; Chen T; Holick MF; Rosen CJ · The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 1998
    Randomized trial60 participantsBone Health forCalcium
  8. The effects of calcium supplementation (milk powder or tablets) and exercise on bone density in postmenopausal women.
    Prince R; Devine A; Dick I; Criddle A; Kerr D; Kent N; Price R; Randell A · Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research · 1995
    Randomized trial168 participantsBone Health forCalcium
  9. The efficacy of calcium supplementation alone in elderly Thai women over a 2-year period: a randomized controlled trial.
    Rajatanavin R; Chailurkit L; Saetung S; Thakkinstian A; Nimitphong H · Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA · 2014
    Randomized trial404 participantsBone Health forCalcium
  10. Calcium-enriched foods and bone mass growth in prepubertal girls: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
    Bonjour JP; Carrie AL; Ferrari S; Clavien H; Slosman D; Theintz G; Rizzoli R · The Journal of clinical investigation · 1997
    Randomized trial149 participantsBone Health forCalcium