Solaray Cal-Mag Citrate with Vitamin D: High-Bioavailability Bone, Muscle & Nerve Support
A science-backed, gentle-on-the-stomach mineral formula combining 1,000 mg Calcium, 500 mg Magnesium, and Vitamin D-2 in an optimal 2:1 ratio to help preserve skeletal strength, soothe muscle tension, and nourish your nervous system.
✓Optimal 2:1 Ratio: Perfectly balanced mineral synergy that supports bone remodeling without throwing electrolyte balance off-course.
✓Gentle Citrate Chelates: Specially bound to natural citric acid so your body can absorb them easily, even if you have low stomach acid.
✓Enhanced with Vitamin D: Activates intestinal transport channels so your body can pull calcium out of the digestive tract and direct it into your bones.
✓Nutritive Herbal Base: Blended with whole alfalfa, watercress, parsley, and dandelion root to deliver naturally occurring plant phytonutrients.
The "Power Trio" Synergy: Why Calcium Alone Isn't Enough for Strong Bones
For decades, people were told to take massive doses of standalone calcium to keep their bones strong. However, modern nutritional biochemistry shows that calcium cannot do its job in isolation. In fact, taking high doses of calcium without enough magnesium and vitamin D can lead to poor mineral absorption and cause calcium to accumulate in soft tissues instead of your skeletal framework.
Think of Your Bone Health Like Constructing a Brick House:
Calcium provides the bricks: It is the raw physical structural material that builds mineral density in bones and teeth.
Vitamin D is the delivery truck: It signals your intestinal wall to absorb calcium from your food and supplements into your bloodstream.
Magnesium is the master builder and mortar: It triggers calcitonin (a hormone that draws calcium into bones) and activates the enzymes required to turn vitamin D into its active, usable form.
Solaray's 2:1 ratio (1,000 mg Calcium to 500 mg Magnesium) mirrors the biological balance found naturally in human physiology. When you supply both minerals simultaneously alongside vitamin D, you help keep calcium soluble, prevent digestive sluggishness, and ensure essential minerals reach where they belong: your bones, joints, and working muscles.
Why Form Matters: The Proven Bioavailability of Citrate Chelates
Not all mineral supplements work the same way inside your body. The specific chemical form of a mineral determines how much of it passes through your intestinal wall and enters your bloodstream versus how much simply passes through unabsorbed.
Feature
Calcium & Magnesium Citrate (In This Formula)
Standard Carbonates & Oxides (Common Store Brands)
Stomach Acid Requirement
Does not require strong acid. Already bound to citric acid; dissolves smoothly in varied digestive pH.
Requires high stomach acid. Needs strong digestive acid to break the chemical bond.
Absorbability (Bioavailability)
22% to 27% higher absorption in peer-reviewed pharmacokinetic trials.
Lower fractional absorption; heavily dependent on meal timing and high acid.
Ideal for Adults Over 50
Excellent. Perfect for mature digestive systems that produce less natural stomach acid.
Often poorly absorbed by seniors or individuals using acid-reducing medications.
Digestive Comfort
Gentle on the stomach; reduced likelihood of bloating or constipation.
Commonly causes gas, belching, hardness of stool, and intestinal discomfort.
Clinical Research Spotlight: In clinical comparison trials conducted at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, researchers confirmed that calcium citrate demonstrated superior bioavailability over calcium carbonate by up to 27%, whether taken with food or on an empty stomach (Sakhaee et al., 1999; Heller et al., 2000). Similarly, landmark research published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition established that magnesium citrate provides significantly higher water solubility and human bioavailability than common magnesium oxide (Lindberg et al., 1990).
Whole-Body Health Benefits: What Cal-Mag Citrate Does for You
1. Restores Bone Mineral Density & Strength
Your skeletal system undergoes constant remodeling: old bone cells break down, and new bone matrix forms. Providing bioavailable calcium together with vitamin D and magnesium supplies the essential materials your osteoblasts (bone-building cells) need to maintain dense, resilient bones as you age, helping lower fracture risks.
2. Eases Muscle Cramps & Supports Nighttime Rest
Calcium triggers muscle fibers to contract, while magnesium signals those same fibers to release and relax. If your mineral intake leans too heavily toward calcium, muscles can remain chronically tight, leading to nighttime leg cramps and twitches. Magnesium citrate helps restore normal muscle function and physical ease.
3. Balances Nervous System & Stress Response
Magnesium acts as a natural gatekeeper for NMDA nerve receptors in the brain, preventing neurons from becoming overstimulated. Adequate magnesium status helps regulate stress hormones and supports the production of GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter that promotes calm and restorative sleep.
4. Promotes Cardiovascular & Dental Integrity
Your heart is a hard-working muscle that relies on regular electrochemical pulses governed by calcium and magnesium ions. Magnesium keeps arterial walls elastic and flexible, while calcium and vitamin D build strong tooth enamel and durable jawbone density.
Complete Supplement Facts & Ingredient Listing
Solaray guarantees that no ingredients other than those explicitly stated on this label have been added. Every batch is lab-verified for purity, potency, and identity.
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 6 VegCaps Servings Per Container: 30
Amount Per Serving
% Daily Value
Total Carbohydrate <1 g
<1%†
Dietary Fiber <1 g
4%†
Vitamin D (as Ergocalciferol) (D-2) 10 mcg (400 IU)
† Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Other Ingredients: Vegetable Cellulose Capsule, Cellulose, Magnesium Stearate, Parsley Leaf (Petroselinum crispum), Alfalfa Leaf (Medicago sativa), Watercress Leaf (Rorippa amphibia), and Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale).
Why the Herbal Base?
Solaray incorporates a proprietary herbal blend of parsley, alfalfa, watercress, and dandelion root. These deeply rooted green botanicals provide natural trace minerals, chlorophyll, and plant enzymes that support general digestive well-being and gentle assimilation.
How to Take for Maximum Absorption and Results
Human digestive physiology has a natural threshold for mineral transport. Taking your entire daily dose at once can overwhelm your intestinal absorption channels. Here is how to get the most value out of every capsule:
1. Split Your Daily Dose
The body absorbs calcium most efficiently in single doses of 500 mg or less. Instead of taking all 6 capsules at once, take 3 capsules with breakfast or lunch, and 3 capsules with dinner or before bed.
2. Take With Food or Water
While citrate minerals absorb well without food, taking your capsules with a meal or an 8-ounce glass of water slows transit time through the gut, giving your small intestine more opportunity to transport minerals into the blood.
3. Hard Time Swallowing Pills?
Because this formula uses two-piece vegetarian capsules (VegCaps) rather than rock-hard compressed tablets, you can easily pull the capsule shells apart and stir the fine mineral powder directly into a smoothie, yogurt, or applesauce.
4. Evening Muscle Relaxation
Taking your second serving 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime allows the magnesium to promote muscle relaxation and calm your nervous system, encouraging a deeper, more peaceful night of sleep.
Safety Information, Drug Interactions & Medical Precautions
At VitaNet, your health and safety come first. While calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D are vital daily nutrients, mineral supplements can interact with prescription medications or existing medical conditions:
Antibiotics (Tetracyclines & Fluoroquinolones): Calcium and magnesium can bind to antibiotics (such as ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, or levofloxacin) in the gut, stopping the medicine from being absorbed. Take your mineral supplement at least 2 hours before or 4 to 6 hours after any antibiotic.
Thyroid Medications (Levothyroxine): Calcium can significantly reduce thyroid hormone absorption. Separate your thyroid medication from calcium-containing supplements by at least 4 hours.
Kidney Disease & Hypermagnesemia: If you have impaired kidney function or chronic renal disease, your kidneys may have difficulty clearing excess magnesium. Consult your nephrologist before supplementing.
Bowel Tolerance: Magnesium naturally draws water into the colon. If you experience loose stools or mild digestive upset, lower your daily dose and build up gradually as your digestive system adapts.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always keep your licensed healthcare practitioner informed when starting any new dietary supplement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What makes Cal-Mag Citrate different from regular calcium supplements?
Most budget store-brand supplements use calcium carbonate (chalk) and magnesium oxide, which require harsh stomach acid to break apart and frequently cause constipation, gas, and poor absorption. Cal-Mag Citrate is chemically bonded to natural citric acid, making it highly water-soluble and easily absorbed by the body, even in individuals with sensitive stomachs or lower stomach acid.
Why is there a 2:1 ratio of Calcium to Magnesium?
The 2:1 ratio (1,000 mg Calcium to 500 mg Magnesium) closely mirrors the physiological balance of these minerals in healthy human tissue. Calcium triggers muscle contraction and builds the mineral structure of bone, while magnesium promotes muscle relaxation, regulates heart rhythm, and stimulates calcitonin to guide calcium into bones.
Can I take this supplement if I take acid reducers or PPIs?
Yes. In fact, calcium citrate is the primary form recommended by doctors for people taking proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or H2 blockers. Because it is pre-acidified, it does not rely on stomach acid to break down, unlike calcium carbonate.
Why does this formula use Vitamin D-2 instead of D-3?
Solaray uses Vitamin D-2 (ergocalciferol) in this specific formulation to ensure the product remains 100% vegetarian friendly. Vitamin D-2 effectively stimulates intestinal calcium-binding proteins to facilitate mineral absorption across the digestive wall.
Do I have to swallow all 6 capsules at the exact same time?
No. In fact, splitting your intake into two daily doses (such as 3 capsules with lunch and 3 capsules with dinner) is much better for absorption. Your body has a natural limit on how much calcium it can absorb in a single sitting.
Can I open the capsules if I cannot swallow pills?
Yes! These vegetarian capsules pull apart easily. You can stir the fine mineral powder directly into cold water, juice, applesauce, or a smoothie without destroying the nutrient potency.
Does this supplement cause constipation or stomach upset?
Calcium carbonate is widely known for causing constipation, but calcium citrate is far gentler on digestion. Additionally, the 500 mg of magnesium provides a gentle balancing effect on bowel motility, keeping your digestion regular and comfortable.
Scientific Citations & Medical Literature
Sakhaee, K., Bhaket, S., Adams-Huet, B., & Rao, D. S. (1999). Meta-analysis of calcium bioavailability: a comparison of calcium citrate with calcium carbonate. American Journal of Therapeutics, 6(6), 313–321. PMID: 11329115. (Demonstrates 22%–27% superior absorption of calcium citrate over calcium carbonate).
Lindberg, J. S., Zobitz, M. M., Poindexter, J. R., & Pak, C. Y. (1990). Magnesium bioavailability from magnesium citrate and magnesium oxide. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 9(1), 48–55. PMID: 2407766. (Proves significantly superior in vitro solubility and human gastrointestinal absorption of magnesium citrate versus magnesium oxide).
Rosanoff, A., Dai, Q., & Shapses, S. A. (2016). Essential Nutrient Interactions: Does Low or Suboptimal Magnesium Status Affect Vitamin D and/or Calcium Status? Advances in Nutrition, 7(1), 25–43. PMID: 26773013. (Explains the enzymatic requirement of magnesium for the hepatic and renal activation of vitamin D).
Weaver, C. M., Alexander, D. D., Boushey, C. J., et al. (2016). Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and risk of fractures: an updated meta-analysis from the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Osteoporosis International, 27(1), 367–376. PMID: 26510847. (Confirms statistically significant fracture risk reduction through combined calcium and vitamin D supplementation).
Recker, R. R. (1985). Calcium absorption and achlorhydria. The New England Journal of Medicine, 313(2), 70–73. PMID: 4003132. (Confirms normal absorption of calcium citrate in individuals lacking stomach acid, compared to marked malabsorption of calcium carbonate).
