How Much Calcium Is in
Your Supplement?
Your Supplement?
To find out how much calcium is in your calcium supplement, look at the product label. Check the percentage of “elemental calcium.” For example, a calcium carbonate product like Tums has 40 percent elemental calcium. This means that each 1,000 milligram (mg) tablet of Tums contains 400 mg of calcium. A calcium citrate product like Citracal contains 21 percent elemental calcium.
Use the following table to help you find how much calcium different types of supplements provide.
| Type of supplement | Tablet size | Amount of calcium per tablet | Number of tablets needed to provide the recommended 1,200 mg of calcium per day |
| Calcium carbonate | 500 mg | 200 mg | 6 |
| 750 mg | 300 mg | 4 | |
| 1,000 mg | 400 mg | 3 | |
| 1,500 mg | 600 mg | 2 | |
| Calcium citrate | 950 mg | 200 mg | 6 |
| Calcium gluconate | 500 mg | 45 mg | 27 |
| 650 mg | 58 mg | 21 | |
| 1,000 mg | 90 mg | 14 | |
| Calcium lactate | 325 mg | 42 mg | 29 |
| 650 mg | 84 mg | 15 |
If you take medications, talk with your physician before you take a calcium supplement. Some calcium supplements may decrease the effect of certain medicines.
