Supplement · Minerals
Calcium
Also known as: Calcium carbonate, Calcium citrate
Vital for bone; best from food, with supplements reserved for genuine shortfalls.
- Evidence
- Silver· human data
- Sources cited
- 1
- Last reviewed
- 22 July 2026
Calcium is the main structural mineral of bone and is essential for muscle and nerve function. Meeting requirements matters for lifelong bone health, especially with adequate vitamin D and resistance exercise.
Food sources are preferred: supplements show only modest fracture-prevention benefit, and some evidence links high-dose calcium supplements (not dietary calcium) to a small increase in cardiovascular and kidney-stone risk. Citrate is better absorbed than carbonate, particularly on an empty stomach or with low stomach acid.