A COMPARISON OF CALCIUM PRODUCTS

Calcium may be purchased in many different forms in the market place. But in order to really be able to evaluate the absorbable (or useable) calcium of each product we need to know:

  • what the amount of available calcium is, and 

  • what is the biochemical absorption percentage for the compound in ideal conditions. 

Below, is a brief summary which addresses how much calcium is actually available to our bodies from commonly available calcium products.

Calcium Carbonate (only 40 mg of usable calcium in 1,000 mg)

Total molecular weight of this compound is 100.09 mg. Calcium weighs 40.09 mg. So Calcium Carbonate is 40% calcium. Scientists tell us that only 10% of the calcium is absorbed from the carbonate. So for every 1,000 mg of calcium carbonate 40% or 400 mg is calcium. Of this 400 mg 10% is absorbed, or only 40 mg of useable calcium. 		Tribasic Calcium Phosphate (only 39 mg of usable calcium in 1,000 mg)

Total molecular weight of this compound is 310.18 mg therefore calcium phosphate is 39% calcium. Scientists tell us that only 10% of the calcium is absorbed from the phosphate. So for every 1,000 mg of calcium phosphate 39% or 390 mg is calcium. Of this 390 mg 10% is absorbed, or only 39 mg of useable calcium.
Calcium Lactate (only 122 mg of usable calcium in 1,000 mg)

Commonly found in dairy products. Total molecular weight of this compound is 218.22 mg therefore calcium lactate is 37% calcium. Scientists tell us that only 33% of the calcium is absorbed from the lactate. So, for every 1,000 mg of calcium lactate 37% or 370 mg is calcium. Of this 370 mg 33% is absorbed, or only 122.1 mg of useable calcium. 		Calcium Citrate (only 105 mg of usable calcium in 1,000 mg)

Total molecular weight of this compound is 572.72 mg therefore calcium citrate is 21% calcium. Scientists tell us that 50% of the calcium is absorbed from the citrate. So for every 1,000 mg of calcium citrate 21% or 210 mg is calcium. Of this 210 mg 50% is absorbed, or only 105 mg of useable calcium.
HTN's Ionic Coral Calcium (924 mg of usable calcium in 973 mg)

There are 973 mg of ionic coral calcium per 1 gram bag. Ionic calcium is 95% absorbable by the body, which means that by consuming 1 bag of coral calcium, you get 924 mg of bioavailable calcium.

 

COMPARISON OF CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS

Supplemental calcium tablets sold in the stores are not always a pure form of calcium. Most have calcium components combined with stabilizers. To be effective, these tablets must be dissolved by hydrochloric acid and other digestive secretions in the stomach. During this process other minerals must be present in order to create an ionized form of calcium. "Only a small part of the original calcium compound actually gets dissolved and ionized."

Tests of over-the-counter calcium based supplements that are most often recommended by physicians and pharmacist were conducted by an independent laboratory.

COMPARISON PROCEDURES

The tests were designed to measure the pH, the oxidation-reduction-potential capabilities, the electrical conductivity, and the ability to counteract the rouleauing effect on erythrocytes (which will vary depending on the degree of acidity within the blood serum). The results of each product were compared to those of The Original Patented™ Marine Grade Sango Alka-Line™ Coral Calcium from HTN.

All products tested were mathematically configured so that the amount of calcium available for testing equaled 1,000 mg. When necessary, the products were physically crushed until all samples had matching consistencies. After the crushing, each product was dissolved in 100 ml of steam-distilled water.

PRODUCTS COMPARED

The products tested were; (1) Mylanta, containing calcium carbonate; (2) Citracal, composed of calcium citrate; (3) Rolaids, containing calcium carbonate; (4) Maalox, containing calcium carbonate; (5) Calcet, composed of equal parts of calcium carbonate, calcium lactate, and calcium gluconate; (6) Tums, containing calcium carbonate; (7) Natural, containing biological oyster shell calcium; (8) Bone Meal, composed of ground and powdered animal bone; (9) Oscal, containing biological oyster shell calcium; (10) AdvaCal, containing biological oyster shell calcium; (11) Source Natural Coral, (12) Coral Complex2, (13) CORALadvantage, (14) Nature’s Sunshine Coral Calcium, (15) Coral Sea, (16) HTN’s Alka-Line™ Coral Calcium Capsules and (17) HTN’s Alka-Line™ Coral Calcium; 1-gram bags (which contain biological, ionic calcium carbonate from Marine Grade Sango Coral).

COMPARISON METHODS AND RESULTS

The tests were conducted using steam distilled water containing crushed powders of each product. The pH results were obtained using a standardized digital pH meter. High pH test numbers equate to a high level of alkalinity. Low pH results equate to a high level of acidity. The pH scale advances at an exponential power of 10 for each level, like the earthquake Richter scale. HTN’s Alka-Line™ Coral Calcium from the 1-gram bag, in steam-distilled water, registered 500 times more alkaline than the next closest product.

Oxygen-reduction results were obtained using a standard Oxygen Reduction Potential meter (ORP). The degree of negativity of an ORP reading is an indicator of how bioavailable and bioabsorbable a product will be. The more negative the test reading, the more ions are available for body metabolic functions. HTN’s Alka-Line™ Coral Calcium, both in the 1-gram bag and in the capsule, were the only product to register minus readings on the ORP meter. A huge benefit over the other products tested.

Electrical conductivity measurements are tested in ohms using an OHM meter. An ohm is a unit of electrical measurement, which demonstrates the amount of electrical resistance of a substance. The lower the ohm reading, the easier it is for electrical impulses to be conducted through the tissues and fluids of the body. The less electrical resistance there is, the more efficiently the metabolic process progresses. This relates to ionic polarization, the osmotic gradient, and the availability of positive and negative ions within the cell membranes.

A normal ohm reading for human tissue is approximately 500 ohms. After drinking water containing 1-gram of HTN’s Alka-Line™ Coral Calcium, the ohm of a human test subject dropped from 500 ohms to 40 ohms. When 1-gram of the other sample products was added to water and then consumed, there was not an appreciable difference in the ohm reading of test subjects.

Live blood cell screening, using a phase contrast darkfield microscope, visually shows the level of acidity present in blood serum. High acidity results in high erythrocyte rouleau (the sticking together or clumping of red blood cells, creating a low oxygen carrying ability). High alkalinity creates low erythrocyte rouleau (red cells are single, not sticking together, and results in the erythrocytes having a high oxygen carrying ability). The blood serum of all test subjects initially showed no rouleau when viewed through the phase contrast darkfield microscope, therefore, the blood serum of all test subjects was alkaline in nature. A cola product with the acidic pH of between 2 and 3 was given to the test subjects to acidify their blood serum.

Product samples were randomly given to the test subjects to see if the sample would restore the subject’s blood serum to the "no rouleau", alkaline condition. Identical comparison tests were conducted over five day periods.

The higher the pH reading advances in alkalinity, the less amount of erythrocyte rouleau is present. HTN’s Alka-Line™ Coral Calcium in the 1-gram bag and the HTN’s Alka-Line™ Coral Calcium Capsule were the only two products that returned the blood serum of the test subjects from a highly acidic, high blood rouleau condition to a highly alkaline, no blood rouleau condition.

Product Name pH Value ORP Electrical Reading conductivity Blood Rouleau Level
1. Mylanta 6.7 pH +80 500 ohm High Rouleau
2. Citracal 6.8 pH +190 500 ohm High Rouleau
3. Rolaids 7.0 pH +64 720 ohm High Rouleau
4. Maalox 7.1 pH +82 280 ohm High Rouleau
5. Calcet 7.2 pH +144 350 ohm High Rouleau
6. Tums 7.2 pH +95 500 ohm High Rouleau
7. Natural 7.3 pH +47 480 ohm Medium Rouleau
8. Bone Meal 7.6 pH +40 500 ohm Medium Rouleau
9. Oscal 7.8 pH +39 300 ohm Medium Rouleau
10.AdvaCal 8.1 pH +35 260 ohm Medium Rouleau
11. *Source Nat. Coral 7.3 ph +281 47 ohm High/Med. Rouleau
12. *Coral Complex 2 7.6 pH -43 34 ohm Medium Rouleau
13. *Coral Advantage 8.7 pH -71 26 ohm Med/Little Rouleau
14. *Nature's Sunshine CC 8.7 pH +47 42 ohm Medium Rouleau
15. *Coral Sea (Young Living) 8.2 pH +59 50 ohm Medium Rouleau
16. HTN's Alka-Line Coral Calcium Capsule 9.2 pH -122 22 ohm No Rouleau
17. HTN's Alka-Line Coral Calcium 1-gram bag 10.5 pH -273 17 ohm No Rouleau
* indicates calcium made from coral sources as per their labels. However, it should be noted that the Department of Health of Japan has banned the selling of above ground coral because it is considered not fit for human consumption.

PRODUCT CORRELATION

There was a high correlation between the pH level of the sample products and the amount of erythrocyte rouleau. There was less correlation between the ORP readings and electrical conductivity between the products; however, HTN’s Alka-Line™ Coral Calcium did register the lowest electrical resistance (ohm) score and only the Coral Calcium products gave readings on the negative side of the ORP meter. HTN’s Alka-Line™ Coral Calcium from Marine Grade Sango coral was the only product that showed positive biological function results in all four of the test areas.

COMMENTS

The wide range of variability displayed by the testing results seems to be linked with the bioavailability and bioabsorbability of the type of calcium being ingested. Calcium minerals, in their elemental state, are normally only 8% to 40% biologically available to animals and humans. After reaching the age of 35 to 40, the availability of minerals to humans drops to 3% to 5%. Older people may not produce enough digestive (HC1) acid to put calcium, magnesium, and potassium into ionic suspension.

Calcium lactate is an example of a typical supplement. A 2,000 mg tablet of calcium lactate will chemically break down to 860 mg of milk sugar or lactose and 140 mg (or 16%) of elemental calcium.

The 140 mg of elemental calcium from the calcium lactate must then undergo digestion in order to become ionized calcium. The end result is that only 5% to 10% of the original elemental calcium ingested is ionized and becomes bioavailable to the human body. This means that after the 140 mg of elemental calcium from calcium lactate completes the digestive process, you will end up with 5% to 10% of the 140 mg, or 7mg to14mg of biological ionic calcium available for metabolic use. Different types of calcium provide different percentages of elemental calcium. For example, calcium carbonate provides 40% elemental calcium, while calcium gluconate supplies only 9% elemental calcium.

It is important for calcium to be consumed in healthy amounts; it does not always end up being fully absorbed by the body. Usually, between 10% up to 40% of dietary elemental calcium intake is absorbed,

although, women after menopause may only absorb up to 7%. Calcium from milk and milk products is absorbed more easily and at a higher percentage rate (but still only 45%) than calcium from supplements. Dietary calcium must be made soluble in the stomach and then pass to the small intestine, where it combines with a calcium binding molecule so it can be absorbed (chelation). Calcium competes with zinc, manganese, magnesium, copper and iron for absorption in the intestine, and a high intake of one can reduce the absorption of the others. Milk also contains lactic acid which may increase the acidity of the body.

HTN’s Alka-Line™ Coral Calcium in the 1-gram bag, which is used in distilled or Reverse Osmosis water, is a natural form of biological calcium derived from pure Marine Grade Sango Coral. Therefore, it is a 100% ionic, bioavailable calcium and does not have to undergo the digestive, ionizing process to which the other calcium and some coral calcium supplements must be subjected.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

The pH of the blood must remain between 7.35 and 7.45 for the body to remain healthy. According to Arthur C. Guyton, M.D., author of the "Textbook of Medical Physiology" which was used to train medical students, states, "At a blood pH of 7.2 and below the person will soon become exceptionally sick and soon die."

A cola is approximately 500,000 times more acidic than blood. The only material in our alkaline reserve that is able to buffer the acid from soft drinks is the ionic calcium released from our bones. When dangerous acidic blood levels are reached calcium from the bone matrix is released into the blood to raise the pH level so that we can stay alive. When you release more calcium from the bone matrix than you replace from your food you begin the process of osteoporosis and arteriosclerosis. Individual colas or soft drinks will not kill you but, over a period of time, they will definitely compromise your health and cause calcium to be leached out of your bone structure.

Calcium is King of the minerals. It makes up 35% of the body and is responsible for over 170 bodily functions. Most people are calcium deficient; therefore they are probably acidic. Ionic calcium supplementation is necessary to raise the pH levels in the cells and body fluids so that we can maintain an optimum health level. According to the tests, the best source of ionic calcium is from HTN’s Originial Patented™ Sango Alka-Line™ Coral Calcium products.

 

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Updated January 01, 2007

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