FAQ

Find answers to the questions that patients commonly ask about calcium, Citracal® products and more.

 

GENERAL CALCIUM FAQ

    How much calcium do my patients need?

    According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), the daily calcium dietary allowances in milligrams are as follows:1

    Age range/population Milligrams
    Birth to 6 months 200
    6 months to 1 year 260
    1 to 3 years 700
    4 to 8 years 1000 
    9 to 18 years 1300
    Women (19 to 50 years) 1000
    Men(19 to 50 years) 1000
    Men (51 to 70 years) 1000
    Women (51 to 70 years) 1200
    Pregnant/lactating women 
    (19 to 50 years)    		 1000

     

    Source: Institute of Medicine, Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium. 

    The National Institutes of Health, the National Osteoporosis Foundation and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists all support the recommendation that women who are ages 51+ get 1200 mg of calcium per day.2-4

    How much Vitamin D do my patients need?

    According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), the daily Vitamin D dietary allowances in international units (IU) are as follows:1

    Age range/population MCG IU
    Birth to 6 months 10 400
    6 months to 1 year 10 400
    1 to 3 years  15 600
    4 to 8 years 15 600
    9 to 18 years 15 600
    19 to 50 years 15 600
    51 to 70 years 15 600
    71 years and older 20 800
    Pregnant/lactating women 
    (19 to 50 years)    		 15 600

    Source: Institute of Medicine, Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium. 

    In addition to IOM recommendations, CITRACAL® meets other key recommendations as well. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends that adults who are ages 50+ get 800 to 1000 IU of Vitamin D per day.3

     

    Do CITRACAL® caplets/tablets contain gluten?

    CITRACAL® does not add any gluten to our line of products. However, we cannot state CITRACAL® is gluten free as it is produced in a facility that manufactures or packages other items that may contain gluten.

    Does CITRACAL® contain lactose?

    Calcium comes from minerals. Lactose is not used in our formulas. Furthermore, our ingredient suppliers have confirmed that none of the ingredients used in these formulas are derived from lactose.

    PRODUCT SPECIFIC FAQ

     

    CITRACAL® MAXIMUM

      What is the difference between calcium citrate and calcium carbonate?

      There are several differences between calcium citrate and calcium carbonate. They include:

      • Calcium citrate is a water-soluble calcium salt, so it is not dependent on gastric acid for its absorption. Calcium carbonate requires gastric acid for its absorption.5
      • Calcium citrate can be taken in conjunction with acid-reducing agents, such as proton pump inhibitors.6-8

      My patients have difficulty swallowing tablets. Does CITRACAL® come in a smaller caplet?

      We recently updated packaging to include instructions for swallowing and precautionary language for elderly and persons with swallowing difficulties.

      CITRACAL® offers a diverse product line in tablets. CITRACAL® Petites are the smallest tablets in the CITRACAL® product line. One serving (two tablets) contains 400 mg of calcium citrate and 500 IU of Vitamin D3. Take one serving twice daily.

      For patients who prefer a supplement in an alternate form, CITRACAL® Calcium Gummies are great tasting, soft and easy to chew. Each serving contains 500 mg of calcium and 1000 IU of Vitamin D3. Take one serving twice daily.

       

      CITRACAL® SLOW RELEASE 1200

         

        CITRACAL® CALCIUM GUMMIES

          References: 1. Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences; November 2011 (revised 2022). 2. Calcium Fact Sheet for Consumers. National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements Web site. https://ods.od.nih.gov/pdf/factsheets/Calcium-Consumer.pdf. Published November 2010. Accessed September 12, 2017. 3. What is Calcium and What Does it Do?. National Osteoporosis Foundation Web site.  https://www.nof.org/patients/treatment/calciumvitamin-d.  Published 2010. Accessed September 12, 2017. 4. What is osteoporosis? American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Web site.  https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Osteoporosis.
          Published August 2011. Accessed September 12, 2017. 5. Recker RR. Calcium absorption and achlorhydria. N Engl J Med. 1985;313:70-73. 6. Yang YX, Lewis JD, Epstein S, Metz DC. Long-term proton pump inhibitor therapy and risk of hip fracture. JAMA. 2006;296:2947-2953. 7. Pak CYC. Bioavailability of calcium from different salts. Pharmacy Times. 1989;Jan:42-44. 8. Straub DA. Calcium supplementation in clinical practice: a review of forms, doses, and indications. Nutr Clin Pract. 2007;22:286-296. 9. Marini H, Minutoli L, Polito F, et al. Effects of the phytoestrogen genistein on bone metabolism in osteopenic postmenopausal women: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2007;146:839-847