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How Many Tums You Should Take

Question:
Is there a danger of getting too much calcium from Tums? I take them frequently for heartburn.
Reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D. Tod Cooperman, M.D.
Initial Posting: 4/26/2015    Last Update: 9/14/2019
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:



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COMMENTS
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
Nancy19029   January 19, 2020
My experience with heartburn and GERD came to an end when I greatly reduced the amount of sugar I consume. It was difficult at first, but worth the effort. No more pain.
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.
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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.
 
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