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Best Calcium and Bone Health Supplements Revealed by ConsumerLab Tests
White Plains, New York, May 16, 2022 — Calcium is essential for maintaining bones and plays critical roles in nerve transmission, muscle contraction, and the cardiovascular system. Most people get enough calcium from their diet, but for those who need a calcium supplement, it can be difficult to know which one provides the right dose and form of calcium and other bone health ingredients such as vitamin D and has been verified to be accurately labeled. It’s also important to keep in mind that getting too much calcium from supplements may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, and have other adverse effects.
To help, ConsumerLab recently selected, purchased, tested, and compared popular calcium and bone health supplements sold in the U.S. and Canada, including tablets, capsules, liquids and gummies. Many of the products included calcium combined with vitamin D, vitamin K, magnesium and/or boron. Each supplement was tested to see if it contained its claimed amount and form of these ingredients. Products were also tested for contamination with lead, cadmium and arsenic, and the ability of pills to properly break apart.
Although the tests showed that all of the supplements contained their claimed amounts and forms of calcium, three combination products were discovered to contain much more or much less of one of the other claimed ingredients. One product contained 240% of its listed vitamin D, and two others contained just 4% to 31% of their listed vitamin K.
Among products that were Approved, ConsumerLab chose a calcium supplement that provides a form of calcium with good bioavailability at a reasonable dose and offers good value as its Top Pick. It also selected Top Picks among combination bone health products containing calcium with vitamin D, magnesium, vitamin K and/or boron.
The results are available online now in ConsumerLab's new Calcium Supplements Review, which includes test results and comparisons for 23 products containing calcium alone or in combination with other ingredients. Seventeen products were selected for testing by ConsumerLab: Bayer Citracal Petites, Caltrate, Country Life Calcium Magnesium Complex, Flora Bone Health+ with Calcium, Magnesium, and Vitamin D & K; Jarrow Formulas BoneUp, Kirkland Signature [Costco] Adult Gummies Calcium – Orange & Cherry, L’il Critters Calcium + D3, Metabolic Maintenance Cal/Mag Powder, Naturelo Bone Strength Plant Calcium Complex With Magnesium, C, D3, K2, & Zinc; Nature’s Way Calcium & Vitamin D3 – Citrus Flavored, New Chapter Bone Strength Take Care, ProCaps Laboratories Andrew Lessman’s Vitamin D3 1000, Pure Encapsulations Calcium (Citrate), Solaray Calcium Citrate 1,000 mg, Swanson Calcium Aspartate, TwinLab Tri-Boron Plus 12, and Webber Naturals Calcium Citrate Vitamin D3. Six other products were tested and Approved through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program: GNC Calcium Plus, GNC Vitamin D-3, GNC Vitamin K, Life Extension Bone Restore with Vitamin K2, Nature’s Bounty Calcium, and Solgar Calcium Magnesium Plus Boron.
The review explains the importance of getting adequate calcium and how it can be obtained from foods. It summarizes the clinical evidence for and against calcium supplementation for bone and cardiovascular health, and other uses. It explains who should take calcium and how much to take, and the differences between various forms of calcium and what to look for on labels, as well as the adverse effects associated with getting too much calcium from supplements, and potential side effects and interactions with calcium supplements.
Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to continually updated reviews of nearly every popular type of dietary supplement and health food, answers to reader questions, and product recalls and warnings. ConsumerLab also provides independent product testing through its voluntary Quality Certification Program. The company is privately held and based in New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.
To help, ConsumerLab recently selected, purchased, tested, and compared popular calcium and bone health supplements sold in the U.S. and Canada, including tablets, capsules, liquids and gummies. Many of the products included calcium combined with vitamin D, vitamin K, magnesium and/or boron. Each supplement was tested to see if it contained its claimed amount and form of these ingredients. Products were also tested for contamination with lead, cadmium and arsenic, and the ability of pills to properly break apart.
Although the tests showed that all of the supplements contained their claimed amounts and forms of calcium, three combination products were discovered to contain much more or much less of one of the other claimed ingredients. One product contained 240% of its listed vitamin D, and two others contained just 4% to 31% of their listed vitamin K.
Among products that were Approved, ConsumerLab chose a calcium supplement that provides a form of calcium with good bioavailability at a reasonable dose and offers good value as its Top Pick. It also selected Top Picks among combination bone health products containing calcium with vitamin D, magnesium, vitamin K and/or boron.
The results are available online now in ConsumerLab's new Calcium Supplements Review, which includes test results and comparisons for 23 products containing calcium alone or in combination with other ingredients. Seventeen products were selected for testing by ConsumerLab: Bayer Citracal Petites, Caltrate, Country Life Calcium Magnesium Complex, Flora Bone Health+ with Calcium, Magnesium, and Vitamin D & K; Jarrow Formulas BoneUp, Kirkland Signature [Costco] Adult Gummies Calcium – Orange & Cherry, L’il Critters Calcium + D3, Metabolic Maintenance Cal/Mag Powder, Naturelo Bone Strength Plant Calcium Complex With Magnesium, C, D3, K2, & Zinc; Nature’s Way Calcium & Vitamin D3 – Citrus Flavored, New Chapter Bone Strength Take Care, ProCaps Laboratories Andrew Lessman’s Vitamin D3 1000, Pure Encapsulations Calcium (Citrate), Solaray Calcium Citrate 1,000 mg, Swanson Calcium Aspartate, TwinLab Tri-Boron Plus 12, and Webber Naturals Calcium Citrate Vitamin D3. Six other products were tested and Approved through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program: GNC Calcium Plus, GNC Vitamin D-3, GNC Vitamin K, Life Extension Bone Restore with Vitamin K2, Nature’s Bounty Calcium, and Solgar Calcium Magnesium Plus Boron.
The review explains the importance of getting adequate calcium and how it can be obtained from foods. It summarizes the clinical evidence for and against calcium supplementation for bone and cardiovascular health, and other uses. It explains who should take calcium and how much to take, and the differences between various forms of calcium and what to look for on labels, as well as the adverse effects associated with getting too much calcium from supplements, and potential side effects and interactions with calcium supplements.
Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to continually updated reviews of nearly every popular type of dietary supplement and health food, answers to reader questions, and product recalls and warnings. ConsumerLab also provides independent product testing through its voluntary Quality Certification Program. The company is privately held and based in New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.
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