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White Plains, New York, May 26, 2017 — Most people know that calcium is important for building and maintaining strong bones, but with so many different forms, dosages and ingredient combinations available on the market, choosing a calcium supplement can be difficult. To help, ConsumerLab.com reviewed popular calcium supplements sold in the U.S., purchasing them on the market, testing the quality, and comparing their dosage and formulation. The Review included calcium tablets, caplets, liquids, chews, and gummies.

The tests revealed that three products contained a lower amount of ingredient than claimed, took too long to break apart in disintegration testing, and/or were contaminated with lead. Among those products which successfully passed testing, ConsumerLab.com identified its Top Picks. Its selections include calcium-only supplements as well as combination products, such as calcium with vitamin D — which is important for proper absorption and utilization of calcium - vitamin K and/or magnesium. Some of the Top Picks provide 500 mg of calcium for less than a nickel. The results are now available in ConsumerLab.com's new Calcium Supplements Review. A related video entitled "How to Choose the Best Calcium Supplement and Avoid Problems" has been posted on YouTube.

Calcium is among the top ten most popular dietary supplements among people who regularly use supplements according to a recent survey by ConsumerLab.com. In addition to its importance for bone health, adequate calcium is needed for proper functioning of nerves, muscles, glands, and the cardiovascular system. However, as explained in the Review, getting too much calcium from supplements may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney stones. In general, it's best not to get more than 1,000 mg of calcium from supplements per day. In addition, because the body does not absorb more than 500 mg of calcium at a time, there is no need to take more than this amount from a single dose.

The Review explains who may or may not need a calcium supplement, how much to take based on age, gender and needs, and how much calcium consumers typically get from foods and other sources, such as antacids. It also provides information about drug interactions with calcium supplements and other safety concerns.

ConsumerLab.com's Calcium Supplements Review is available online (at https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/bone_supplements-calcium_with_ vitamin_d_k_magnesium/calcium/) and includes test results and quality comparisons for the following 27 products including 18 supplements selected for testing by ConsumerLab.com, nine supplements which passed the same testing through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program, as well as information about three products which are similar to one which passed testing: AdvoCare Calcium Plus, AlgaeCal Plus, Bayer Citracal Petites, Bluebonnet EarthSweet Chewables Calcium Magnesium & D3, Caltrate 600 + D3, ChildLife Liquid Calcium With Magnesium, Country Life Target-Mins Calcium Magnesium, Douglas Laboratories Calcium Citrate, Finest Nutrition [Walgreens] Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc, GNC Calcium Citrate, Jarrow Formulas Bone-Up, Kirkland Signature [Costco] Calcium 600 mg + D3, Kirkland Signature [Costco] Calcium Citrate Magnesium And Zinc, L'il Critters Calcium Gummy Bears with D3, MegaFoods Calcium, Metagenics CalApatite Bone Builder With Magnesium, Nature Made D3, Nature's Bounty Calcium Magnesium Zinc, Nature's Way Alive Calcium Bone Formula, Pure Encapsulations OsteoBalance, Puritan's Pride Chelated Calcium Magnesium Zinc, Sundown Naturals Calcium Magnesium and Zinc, Swanson Liquid Calcium & Magnesium, The Honest Co. Gummy Calcium & Vitamin D3, Trader Joe's Calcium Citrate with Vitamin D, Viactiv Calcium Plus D - Milk Chocolate, Vitamin World Calcium Magnesium Zinc, Vitamin World Calcium with Vitamin D3 and Wellesse Calcium & Vitamin D3.

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 reviews of more than 1,000 products from over 400 brands. The company is privately held and based in Westchester, New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.


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