Kalcium – former, portionsmängder och vad benforskningen visar

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Selected whole synthesis paragraphs; no linked trial originals assigned.

URL: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/
Title: Calcium — Fact Sheet for Health Professionals
Source updated: June 22, 2026
Capture: Selected whole paragraphs from the official NIH ODS web reader on 2026-10-18. Explicit sections below; not the entire fact sheet or any linked original trials. Citation link markers represented by their displayed numeric labels. Direct Node HTTP request returned 403; no bypass attempted. Web-reader HTTP status not captured.

Introduction — first three complete paragraphs

Calcium, the most abundant mineral in the body, is found in some foods, added to others, present in some medicines (such as antacids), and available as a dietary supplement.

Calcium makes up much of the structure of bones and teeth and allows normal bodily movement by keeping tissue rigid, strong, and flexible [1]. The small ionized pool of calcium in the circulatory system, extracellular fluid, and various tissues mediates blood vessel contraction and dilation, muscle function, blood clotting, nerve transmission, and hormonal secretion [1,2].

Calcium from foods and dietary supplements is absorbed by both active transport and by passive diffusion across the intestinal mucosa [1,3]. Active transport is responsible for most absorption when calcium intakes are lower, and passive diffusion accounts for an increasing proportion of calcium absorption as intakes rise. Vitamin D is required for calcium to be absorbed in the gut by active transport and to maintain adequate calcium levels in the blood [1].

Assessing calcium status — complete opening summary paragraph

Because almost all calcium in the body is stored in the skeleton, a dual x-ray absorptiometry scan of bone mineral density can assess a person’s cumulative calcium status over their lifetime. Total calcium levels can be measured in serum or plasma, but these levels are not a good reflection of an individual’s calcium status.

Food — complete opening summary paragraph

Milk, yogurt, and cheese contain high amounts of calcium. Some nondairy foods also contain calcium, including certain vegetables (e.g., kale, broccoli, Chinese cabbage) and canned sardines and salmon with bones. In addition, some nondairy foods, such as many fruit juices, milk substitutes, tofu, and cereals, are fortified with calcium.

Dietary supplements — complete form, elemental amount, absorption and side-effect paragraphs

The two most common forms of calcium in supplements are calcium carbonate and calcium citrate [1]. In people with low levels of stomach acid, the solubility rate of calcium carbonate is lower, which could reduce the absorption of calcium from calcium carbonate supplements unless they are taken with a meal [3]. Calcium citrate is less dependent on stomach acid for absorption than calcium carbonate, so it can be taken without food [1].

In general, however, absorption of calcium supplements is greater when they are taken with food, regardless of whether the user’s gastric acid is low [3]. Other calcium forms in supplements include calcium sulfate, ascorbate, microcrystalline hydroxyapatite, gluconate, lactate, and phosphate [14].

The forms of calcium in supplements contain varying amounts of elemental calcium. For example, calcium carbonate is 40% calcium by weight, whereas calcium citrate is 21% calcium [1]. Elemental calcium is listed in the Supplement Facts panel, so consumers do not need to calculate the amount of calcium supplied by various forms of calcium in supplements.

The percentage of calcium absorbed from supplements, as with that from foods, depends not only on the source of calcium but also on the total amount of elemental calcium consumed at one time; as the amount increases, the percentage absorbed decreases. Absorption from supplements is highest with doses of 500 mg or less [15]. For example, the body absorbs about 36% of a 300 mg calcium dose and 28% of a 1,000 mg dose [16].

Some individuals who take calcium supplements might experience gastrointestinal side effects, including gas, bloating, constipation, or a combination of these symptoms. Calcium carbonate appears to cause more of these side effects than calcium citrate, especially in older adults who have lower levels of stomach acid [1].

Symptoms can be alleviated by switching to a supplement containing a different form of calcium, taking smaller calcium doses more often during the day, or taking the supplement with meals.

Bone mineral density — complete recent-review and earlier-review paragraphs

Several recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses have found that supplementation with calcium alone or a combination of calcium and vitamin D increases BMD in older adults. For example, a systematic review and meta-analysis included 15 RCTs in postmenopausal women (but did not include the two studies described in the previous paragraph) in 78,206 women, of which 37,412 were in the intervention group and 40,794 were in the control group [34].

Supplementation with both calcium and vitamin D or consumption of dairy products fortified with both nutrients increased total BMD as well as BMD at the lumbar spine, arms, and femoral neck. However, in subgroup analyses, calcium had no effect on femoral neck BMD.

Earlier systematic reviews and meta-analyses found a positive relationship between calcium and vitamin D supplementation and increased BMD in older males [35] and between higher calcium intakes from dietary sources or supplements and higher BMD in adults older than 50 [25]. However, whether these BMD increases were clinically significant is not clear.

Fractures — complete subsection

As with the evidence on the link between increased calcium intakes and reductions in BMD loss, the findings of research on the use of calcium supplementation to prevent fractures in older adults are mixed.

For the most part, the observational evidence does not show that increasing calcium intakes reduces the risk of fractures and falls in older adults.

For example, a longitudinal cohort study of 1,490 women age 42 to 52 years at baseline who were followed for 10 to 12 years found that fracture risk was not significantly different in calcium supplement users (some of whom also took vitamin D supplements) and nonusers, even though supplement use was associated with less BMD loss throughout the study period [36].

Some clinical trial evidence shows that supplements containing a combination of calcium and vitamin D can reduce the risk of fractures in older adults. For example, a meta-analysis of eight RCTs in 30,970 adults older than 50 years found that 500 to 1,200 mg/day calcium and 400 to 800 IU/day (10 to 20 mcg/day) vitamin D supplementation for 1 to 7 years reduced the risk of total fractures by 15% and hip fractures by 30% [37].

However, findings were negative in another systematic review and meta-analysis that included 14 RCTs of calcium supplementation and 13 trials comparing calcium and vitamin D supplements with hormone therapy, placebo, or no treatment in participants older than 50 years [38].

The results showed that calcium supplementation alone had no effect on risk of hip fracture, and supplementation with both calcium and vitamin D had no effect on risk of hip fracture, nonvertebral fracture, vertebral fracture, or total fracture. Similarly, a systematic review of 11 RCTs in 51,419 adults age 50 and older found that supplementation with vitamin D and calcium for 2 to 7 years had no impact on the risk of total fractures or of hip fractures [39].

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concluded with moderate certainty that daily doses of less than 1,000 mg calcium and less than 400 IU (10 mcg) vitamin D do not prevent fractures in postmenopausal women and that the evidence on larger doses of this combination is inadequate to assess the benefits in this population [40].

The USPSTF also determined that the evidence on the benefits of calcium supplementation alone or with vitamin D is inadequate to assess its effect on preventing fractures in men and premenopausal women.

Additional research is needed before conclusions can be drawn about the use of calcium supplements to improve bone health and prevent fractures in older adults.

Health Risks from Excessive Calcium — complete opening summary and following four paragraphs before the UL table

Higher intakes of supplemental calcium might increase the risk of kidney stones. According to some research, calcium supplements have the potential to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Higher calcium intakes might also increase the risk of prostate cancer. The tolerable upper intake level for calcium ranges from 2,000 mg to 2,500 mg for adults and from 1,000 mg to 3,000 mg for infants, children, and adolescents, depending on age.

Hypercalcemia (serum levels >10.5 mg/dL [2.63 mmol/L]) and hypercalciuria (urinary calcium levels >250 mg/day in women and 275 mg/day in men) are rare in healthy people and usually result from cancer, primary hyperparathyroidism, and other conditions [1,4]. Hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria can cause poor muscle tone, renal insufficiency, hypophosphatemia, constipation, nausea, weight loss, fatigue, polyuria, heart arrhythmias, and a higher risk of CVD mortality [1,4,49].

High calcium intakes might also increase the risk of CVD (see the section on CVD in Calcium and Health section above) [39,63,68,70,71] and prostate cancer (see the Other Cancers in Calcium and Health section above for more details) [58,59], although not all studies confirm these findings.

The ULs for calcium established by the FNB are listed in Table 3. They are based on observational evidence from the WHI showing a link between higher intakes of supplemental calcium (1,000 mg/day for 7 years) and a greater risk of kidney stones [97,98].

However, two subsequent systematic reviews of the evidence from 10 studies in more than 8,000 adults with osteoporosis who took 120 to 1,500 mg supplemental calcium daily for 3 days to 3 years [99] and 11 RCTs in 51,419 adults 50 years and older who took 1,000 to 1,600 mg calcium with or without vitamin D for 2 to 7 years [39] found no such association.

Interactions with Medications — complete opening summary and paragraph

Calcium supplements may interact with medications, and some medications may affect calcium levels. These medications include dolutegravir, levothyroxine, lithium, and quinolone antibiotics.

Calcium supplements have the potential to interact with certain medications, and several types of medications might adversely affect calcium levels. A few examples are provided below. Individuals taking these and other medications on a regular basis should discuss their calcium status with their health care providers.

Updated: June 22, 2026

Läs produktdeklarationen på ActiQs

Kalciumkarbonat, magnesiumhydroxsid, fyllnadsmedel (tvärbundet natriumkarboximetylcellulosa) ytbehandlingsmedel (magnesiumsalter av fettsyror, hydroxipropylmetylcellulosa, talk, modifierad stärkelse, hydroxipropylcellulosa, karnaubavax), vegetabilsk olja (från kokosnöt), vitamin D (kolekalciferol).

Innehåll	per 1 tablett	% av DRI	per 2 tabletter	% av DRI	

Kalcium	300 mg	38%	600 mg	76%	

Magnesium	150 mg	40%	300 mg	80%	

Vitamin D3	20 ug	400%	40 ug	800%	


DRI = Dagligt referensintag

Läs produktdeklarationen på ActiQs

Glukosesirup, sukker/socker, calciumsalte af orthophosphorsyre/kalciumsalter av ortofosforsyra, geleringsmiddel/geleringsmedel (pektin), syre/syra (citronsyre), naturlig aroma/arom (hindbær/hallon), gulerod/morotkoncentrat, solbær/svarta vinbärkoncentrat, naturlig aroma/arom (hindbær/hallon og andre naturlige/naturliga aromaer/aromer), vegetabilsk olie/oljor (kokos, raps), overfladebehandlingsmiddel/ytbehandlingsmedel (carnaubavoks/karnaubavax), vit. D3 (cholecalciferol). Produktens ingredienslista kan uppdateras över tid. Konsultera alltid ingredienslistan som finns på den köpta produktens förpackning.

Näringsinnehåll per daglig dos 2 tabletter % av DRI*:

Vitamin D 5 µg 100%

Kalcium 300 mg 38%

Näringsinnehåll per daglig dos 3 tabletter % av DRI*:

Vitamin D 7,5 µg 150%

Kalcium 450 mg 57%

*Dagligt referensintag

Läs produktdeklarationen på ActiQs

Glukossirap, socker, vitamin- och mineralkomposition (kalciumfosfat och vitamin D3), modifierad stärkelse, antioxidationsmedel (citronsyra), surhetsreglerande medel (natriumcitrat), naturlig arom, färgämne (koncentrat av morot), övriga tillsatser (karnaubavax). Utan palmolja och konserveringsmedel.

Näringsvärde daglig dos 2 gummies: Energi 86 kJ / 21 kcal, Fett 0,01 g - varav mättat fett 0,01 g, Kolhydrater 4,96 g - varav sockerarter 2,74 g, Protein 0,01 g, Salt 0,03 g, Kalcium 40% av DRI* 320 mg, Fosfor 22,8% av DRI* 60 mg, Vitamin D3 100% av DRI* 5 µg. *DRI = Dagligt rekommenderat intag (RDA RL 2008/100/EU).

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Full current exact imported definitions of distinct identities; not an identity merge

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{"id":"chebi-29320","version_id":"5dbb481f-6c5d-4cc0-9936-24e673e7e774","name":"calcium(0)","definition":""}

{"id":"chebi-29108","version_id":"ff0a079d-2880-4a78-ba95-ac4afd52650f","name":"calcium(2+)","definition":""}

{"id":"chebi-3311","version_id":"af7bf304-6ae9-46ec-83e9-5e467e5cb5f9","name":"calcium carbonate","definition":"A calcium salt with formula CCaO<small><sub>3</sub></small>."}

{"id":"chebi-190513","version_id":"1b22a42a-234c-49b2-9075-bb974f393bc8","name":"calcium citrate","definition":"An organic calcium salt composed of calcium cations and citrate anions in a 3:2 ratio."}