Join Now!  |  Sign In  |  Contact Us
  
 
Product Tests
Select a Review
CL Answers
 Warnings 
Encyclopedia
Where to Buy
News

ConsumerLab.com Answers  

How Many Tums You Should Take

Question:
Is there a danger of getting too much calcium from Tums? I take them frequently for heartburn.
Too Much Calcium from Tums? -- bottle of antacid tablets
Answer:
Taking Tums can significantly contribute to your daily calcium intake, and it can be easy to exceed the recommended daily intake for calcium if you take several tablets per day. Since getting more than 1,000 mg of calcium daily from sources other than food is associated with certain risks, it's important to consider how many tablets you are taking and what strength they are (i.e. regular, extra strength, "ultra," etc.). More information about this is found in the Calcium Supplements Review.

Calcium can also interfere with the absorption of certain medications and other minerals. See the Cautions section of the Calcium Review and the Encyclopedia article about Antacids for more about this.

Learn More About Calcium Supplements:



How much calcium from supplements is too much? >>

Can taking fish oil or calcium supplements increase my risk of prostate cancer? My doctor recommended that I stop taking them since I have an enlarged prostate. >>

Is calcium hydroxyapatite really better than other forms of calcium? >>

Does taking one slow-release calcium tablet of 600 mg (such as Citracal) per day pose a risk for heart disease? >>

Is it true that calcium citrate increases the absorption of aluminum? >>

 See other recent and popular questions >>
COMMENTS
Add Comment
Sally16904   June 20, 2018
Tums contains aluminum which is a neurotoxin. Studies have shown that aluminum is linked to a wide range of diseases including breast cancer, Alzheimer's, dementia and neurological disorders. I now take chewable papaya tablets for indigestion which I find even more effective than Tums.
Comment on Post
ConsumerLab.com   June 20, 2018
Hi Sally - We are not aware of aluminum as an ingredient in TUMS currently on the market. However, another popular antacid contains aluminum hydroxide as we discuss in our Magnesium Review (https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/magnesium-supplement-review/magnesium/#toppicks), because certain forms of magnesium can increase absorption of aluminum and it would be best not to use both products together.
Comment on Post
Cheri16490   February 21, 2018
Do we really know what vitamin and mineral requirements are? What is this based off? Any updated studies? We really don't follow any of the guidelines.
Vit D is a perfect example. The rda is 400-800 ius daily but most hcp's are recommending 2000-10000 ius daily.
Comment on Post
ConsumerLab.com   February 22, 2018
Yes, we do know what the requirements are for most vitamins and minerals, although this changes from time-to-time as more is learned. This website is dedicated to providing exactly that type of information, and there are countless researchers focused on these issues. The latest recommendations are summarized here https://www.consumerlab.com/RDAs/ . More details are in our Reviews, which are continually updated.
Comment on Post
andrew15091   June 14, 2017
Robert Sapolsky has often remarked that ulcers and heartburn are stress warning signs, and taking tums regularly only masks the route cause, which is emotional and extremely life-shortening. Stress shortens telomeres, increases heart and vascular risks, and worse of all, makes you feel bad. Watch the pbs special in Stress, it's as easy to swallow as a DHA capsule!
Comment on Post
Karen6879   July 22, 2015
Tums is a poor substitute for calcium. I believe that is calcium carbonate. Tums will try to neutralize the hydrochloric acid in you body but you need this acid for absorption of vitamins and minerals.
Comment on Post
ConsumerLab.com   July 31, 2015
Hi Karen - Yes, Tums contains calcium carbonate. You can read more about this form in the "What to Consider When Buying" section of the Calcium Supplements Review: https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/_/calcium/#buying
Comment on Post
Lynda690   April 26, 2015
Popping TUMS or other antacids to treat symptoms of your heartburn can definitely upset the balance of vitamins and minerals in your body. Find a Functional Medicine healthcare professional and discover the root cause of your symptom before you choose a treatment. The Institute of Functional Medicine's website can direct you to a provider in your area. Wish you the best in health.
Comment on Post

Share your thoughts and comments about this topic in the space below. Please abide by the following rules:
  • If you make a statement of fact, such as whether a type of treatment does or does not work, state your basis -- such as personal experience or a published study.
  • If you make a positive or negative comment about a product, note whether or not you have a financial interest in the product or in a competing product.
  • Please be respectful in your tone.
  • Please do not submit any type of HTML markup or scripting as it will not be accepted, nor will comments that exceed 2,500 characters.
For your privacy, only your first name (from your account) followed by a random number will appear with your comment. Your last name and email address will not be displayed.
Comment:

Share your thoughts and comments about this topic in the space below. Please abide by the following rules:
  • If you make a statement of fact, such as whether a type of treatment does or does not work, state your basis -- such as personal experience or a published study.
  • If you make a positive or negative comment about a product, note whether or not you have a financial interest in the product or in a competing product.
  • Please be respectful in your tone.
  • Please do not submit any type of HTML markup or scripting as it will not be accepted, nor will comments that exceed 2,500 characters.
For your privacy, only your first name (from your account) followed by a random number will appear with your comment. Your last name and email address will not be displayed.
Comment:

You can modify your comment below. Please be aware the comment will have to approve the changes before they will be shown:
Comment:

Your edit has been submitted and is being reviewed by ConsumerLab.com prior to publication.
This CL Answer initially posted on 4/26/2015. Last updated 9/14/2019.
ConsumerLab.com members may submit questions to CLAnswers@ConsumerLab.com. We read all questions and try to answer those of popular interest.
 
   BECOME A MEMBER
JOIN NOW
Product Reviews
Turmeric and Curcumin Supplements and Spices

CoQ10 and Ubiquinol Supplements

CBD & Hemp Extract Supplements

Fish Oil /Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements

Multivitamin and Multimineral Supplements

Apple Cider Vinegar

... and More!
ENCYCLOPEDIA
In addition to our product reviews our encyclopedia covers the following:

Herbs & Supplements

Conditions

Drug Interactions

Alternative Therapies
MEMBER TESTIMONIALS
Follow us on...
facebook twitter
ConsumerLab.com
 
 
Join |  Sign In
   
Join Us on Facebook! Join Us on Instagram! Join Us on Twitter! Join Us on YouTube! Join Us on YouTube!
Product Tests
Brands Tested
Health Conditions
Encyclopedia
CL Answers
Clinical Updates 		News
Recalls & Warnings
RDAs
Where to Buy Products 		Raw Materials Tests
Testing Program
How Products Were Tested 		Join CL Today
Testimonials
Join Free Newsletter
Group Subscriptions
Gift Membership 		About Us
The CL Seal
CL Survey
Privacy Policy
Sitemap
Contact Us/Help
©2019 ConsumerLab.com, LLC. All rights reserved. A single copy of a report may be printed for personal use by the subscriber. It is otherwise unlawful to print, download, store or distribute content from this site without permission.
ConsumerLab.com name and flask logo are both registered trademarks of ConsumerLab.com, LLC. This site is intended for informational purposes only and not to provide medical advice.