Should You Take Calcium and Vitamin D?

 

“We only require what the body needs and can absorb at a given time and in the right form.”

We all heard that sufficient amount of calcium should be taken to optimize bone and overall health. According to The Food and Nutrition Board at the U.S. Institute of Medicine, the suggested daily intake for adults is 1,000 mg of calcium, which should be increased to 1,200 mg/day for 50+ years old women and 70+ years old men. For individuals with osteoporosis and/or osteopenia, postmenopausal or amenorrheic women at risk, persons with lactose intolerance, and those with cow milk allergy—persons unable to obtain sufficient calcium supply through foods—oral calcium supplementation might be recommended on top of diet.

“Several studies have suggested, however, that there might be a non-negligible risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events associated with intake of high doses of exogenous calcium through oral supplements. This is based on the findings from landmark cohorts including the EPIC-Heidelberg (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) study, NIH-AARP (National Institutes of Health–American Association of Retired Persons) Diet and Health Study, MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis), and meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and cohort data.”[1]

Another study had similar results: “Calcium ± vitamin D supplementation was associated with a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality.”[2]

Receiving vitamin D from the sun or diet or taking vitamin D in supplement form is very beneficial for health, but we must set limits, after all vitamin D is hormone stored in the fatty tissues: in a healthy state we only require what the body needs and can absorb at a given time. The latest study on this subject proves this point. Apparently, “[c]alcium and vitamin D supplements seemed to reduce cancer mortality and increase cardio vascular disease (CVD) mortality after more than 20 years of follow-up among postmenopausal women.”[3]

What is the right and healthy decision to take, especially when doctors prescribe calcium and vitamin D? We must ask ourselves: can we really judge all things on the same level, based on name alone? Are all calcium forms equal, and how much vitamin D is enough? Medical schools do not train doctors in nutrition, then how can doctors and the average patient make informed decisions based on the pharma driven world? Since our bones are made of calcium a woman 50 plus is advised to take 1200 mg of calcium. It is reported that 27% of calcium is found in drinking milk,[4] but is it true or are they sponsored by the dairy board?

The ingestion of large amounts of milk and antacids to treat peptic ulcer disease was a common cause of hypercalcemia (the milk-alkali syndrome) in the past. Pasteurized dairy products are one of the worst pathways for calcium absorption; the pasteurization process can only create calcium carbonate, which is one of the least likely ways of entering the cells, they require a chelating agent to do that. What the body does to absorb calcium carbonate is to pull the calcium from the bones and other tissues in order to buffer the calcium carbonate in the blood, which actually creates osteoporosis. It is so sad when we consider how many  elderly folks are bent over with osteoporosis after diligently eating and drinking their dairy and taking doctor recommended calcium supplements throughout their adult life. The pharmaceutical conglomerates know that drinking milk and most calcium supplements are poor sources of calcium, but they are still recommended to stave off osteoporosis while prescribing statins and Fosamax® bisphosphonate when they do not work.

The proper ratio of calcium to magnesium is 1 to 1; in one cup of milk, there is 300 mg of calcium and since the magnesium in milk is 10% of the calcium, milk contains 10 to 1 calcium to magnesium. Pasteurized milk definitively does not do the body good. How about almond milk? In raw almonds, the calcium content is high but unfortunately most is lost during the manufacturing process. You will discover many brands list calcium-fortified almond milk, meaning they add extra calcium after the fact. A cup of unfortified soy milk is 1 to 1, having  25 mg of each calcium and magnesium, the problem is 94% of soy is grown genetically modified.

Orotates

Orotates are the mineral salts of orotic acid, a natural substance found in our bodies and in some types of foods e.g. dairy products. Hans Nieper, a German physician, theorized that orotates are a component of a natural system of electrolyte carriers for distributing minerals throughout the body. Based on his observations of cells in culture, Nieper concluded that molecules of calcium orotate and magnesium orotate can pass through cell membranes intact without “dissociating” or breaking apart into their component ions.

As mentioned before, there are several different sources of calcium yet not all of them provide the same benefits of cellular absorption. As opposed to other forms, calcium orotate can be transported through complex cell membranes where other simpler calcium forms cannot, creating calcium deposits and spurs throughout the body. It also liberates the liver’s calcium ion in such a way, that it has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Calcium orotate protects the body from arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) as well. It has also been proven to have a beneficial impact on the degenerative bone changes characteristic of osteoarthritis and in treating inflammatory and osteoporotic decalcification.[5]

A randomized double blind prospective study showed that “2 months of calcium orotate therapy in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis significantly increased serum calcium levels and reduced the symptoms of osteoporosis with no side effects. These results suggest that calcium orotate is an important therapeutic option in the treatment of women with postmenopausal osteoporosis when compared to calcium carbonate + vit D3 treatment.”[6]

Magnesium orotate has been proven to be beneficial in cardiovascular disorders, cholesterol-lowering and heart-energizing, it has also been reported to improve the elasticity of blood vessels.

Life Choice® Opti-Cal/Mag Complex with Vitamin K2 and Boron

Medical research has shown that the addition of calcium supplements to the diet can restore strength to the bones, particularly when the calcium is balanced with minerals delivered to the cell nucleus without being eliminated from the body.

Opti-Cal/Mag Complex was designed to promote bone growth by increasing the production of osteocalcin in osteoblasts, which allows calcium to anchor to bone and thus build bone. It also inhibits the production of osteoclasts, which break down bone thereby acting as an inorganic calcium scavenger for reabsorption.

The ingredients with numbers in brackets represent the elemental mineral delivered to the cells intact, 1 calcium to 1 magnesium.

Each V-capsule contains:

Calcium Orotate (Calcium 47 mg)                                            470  mg

Magnesium Bisglycinate/Orotate (47 mg)                             445 mg

Vitamin K2 (Menaquinone-7)                                                    60 mcg

MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)                                                100 mg

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxal 5 phosphate 15 mg)                           10 mg

Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol, 10 mcg)                                        400 IU

Potassium Aspertate (Potassium 12 mg)                50 mg

Boron Citrate (Boron 80 mcg)                                                   3  mg

Life Choice Opti-Cal/Mag Complex is 100% pure pharmaceutical grade.

Boron is a vital trace mineral that is required for the normal growth and development of the body. Boron offers a wide range of health benefits, particularly in relation to bone health. It has proven to be an effective treatment for arthritis, showing significant improvement in over 95% of cases by enhancing calcium integration into cartilage and bones. Boron also reduces the severity of rheumatoid arthritis, addressing allergic and inflammatory conditions associated with the condition. As individuals age, boron helps prevent bone weakening and porosity by maximizing and utilizing calcium effectively. In addition, boron plays a role in bodybuilding by enhancing testosterone levels in males, although concrete evidence on its impact on athletic performance is lacking.

When things are broadly recommended without clarification or appear too good to believe, while the disease process continues increasing after following everything to  remain healthy, we have to question the entire medical system and the marketing board. Has government oversight examined the clinical scientific research to ensure everything has been done, leaving no stone unturned, or has it been decided for the benefits of corporate interests and for the ease of controlling the masses? Whatever the answer might be, at the moment you can still decide realizing that your healthcare rests between your own two hands.

Additional Reading:

References:

[1] Michos, Erin D. et al. 2021.

[2] Kassis, Nicholas et al. 2022.

[3] Thomson, Cyntia A. et al. 2024.

[4] National Institutes of Health. 2024.

[5] Nieper, Hans. 1969.

[6] Yasmeen, Nazia et al. 2013.