The Best Calcium For Osteoporosis Doesn't Have to Be Expensive

You can pay 4 cents or 30 cents for calcium supplements of similar quality. But all supplements are not created equal.

Osteoporosis societies and pharmaceutical companies now agree that calcium alone is not sufficient to improve bone density. The best calcium for osteoporosis treatment will provide:

• 1,200-1,500 mg. calcium
• 800-1,000 IU. of vitamin D
• 120 ug. vitamin K
• 420 mg. of magnesium

These calcium and vitamin D targets are recommended by the U.S. National Osteoporosis Foundation and Osteoporosis Canada for women over the age of fifty. The vitamin K and magnesium targets are the upper levels recommended within the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) followed in the United States and Canada.

Few brands provide the recommended levels of calcium, magnesium, vitamin D and vitamin K required to build healthy bones. There is also little relationship between supplement prices and the blend of ingredients that are being offered. Some of the most popular brands can cost up to 30 cents a tablet and still not provide the recommended levels of vitamins and minerals. And there are brands that cost as little as 4 cents a tablet that provide all the required ingredients. Most importantly, few calcium supplements have enough vitamin D to ensure that the calcium enters the bones rather than migrating to the arteries and soft tissue.

High quality generic supplements do exist for an attractive price if the consumer has the time and patience to search through hundreds of brands. Doctors do not have the time to monitor the supplement market and health food stores are rarely excited about the less expensive bone building supplements. Indeed, some of the best prices are found on-line rather than in big box stores or drug stores.

For the millions of women and men who are threatened by osteoporosis, both the quality and cost of calcium supplements are critical as they may be purchasing them for the next 30-40 years. It is worth spending some time choosing the right brand so that more time and money can be spent on developing a great diet and exercise program-which are also necessary for building health bones.