The Lowdown on Calcium Supplements

Combination Products

Is the calcium I get from a multivitamin enough?

Calcium supplements are available in a bewildering array of combinations with vitamins and other minerals. Most experts recommend that nutrients come from a balanced diet, with multivitamins used to supplement dietary deficiencies.

Calcium supplements often come in combination with vitamin D, which is necessary for the absorption of calcium. However, calcium and vitamin D do not need to be taken together and/or in the same preparation in order to be absorbed by the body.

Minerals such as magnesium and phosphorus also are important but usually are obtained through food or multivitamins.

Getting enough calcium – whether through your diet or with the help of supplements – will help to protect the health of your bones. However, this is only one of the steps you need to take for bone health. Exercise, a healthy lifestyle, and, for some people, medication, are also important.