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NOW® Calcium Citrate with Minerals (250 Tablets)
Advanced Bone Metabolism Formula with Highly Bioavailable Calcium, Vitamin D, Magnesium & Albion™ Chelation
If you are looking to support your bone mineral density, joint strength, and structural health, not all calcium supplements are created equal. Many standard store-bought calcium pills rely on cheap calcium carbonate, which is chalk-based, hard on the stomach, and requires massive amounts of stomach acid just to dissolve. NOW® Calcium Citrate with Minerals provides an easily digested, highly bioavailable form of calcium bonded to citric acid. This means your body can break it down effortlessly—even if you have a sensitive stomach or lower digestive acid levels.
Equally important, calcium never works in isolation. For calcium to safely reach your skeletal matrix instead of lingering in soft tissues, it requires essential mineral partners. This complete daily bone formula delivers 600 mg of elemental calcium paired with 400 IU (10 mcg) of Vitamin D, 300 mg of Magnesium, and patented Albion™ TRAACS® chelated Zinc, Copper, and Manganese.
Key Formula Highlights at a Glance:- ✓ Superior Bioavailability: Calcium citrate is readily absorbed with or without meals and does not trigger common chalky gas or indigestion.
- ✓ Complete Bone Synergy: Balanced with Vitamin D, Magnesium, and trace co-factors that regulate bone formation and collagen synthesis.
- ✓ Patented Albion™ Chelation: Zinc, Copper, and Manganese are bound to amino acids for maximum intestinal uptake without mineral competition.
- ✓ 100% Vegan & Non-GMO: Certified Kosher, Halal, free of major allergens, and verified through comprehensive in-house laboratory testing.
The Science of Bone Metabolism: How This Formula Works in the Body
To get the most out of your calcium supplement, it helps to understand how your body actually moves minerals from your digestive tract into your skeleton. The human skeleton is dynamic tissue undergoing constant remodeling: old bone tissue is continually dismantled by cells called osteoclasts, while new structural matrix is synthesized by cells called osteoblasts. Taking an isolated calcium pill without the proper co-factors fails to support this complex enzymatic chain.
1. Why Calcium Citrate Outperforms Calcium Carbonate
Calcium carbonate requires high concentrations of gastric hydrochloric acid to ionize into a usable mineral form. In clinical studies, calcium citrate demonstrated significantly greater fractional absorption—up to 2.5 times higher than calcium carbonate when taken on an empty stomach (Sakhaee et al., American Journal of Therapeutics, PMID: 11329115; Harvey et al., Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, PMID: 3218654). Because calcium citrate does not rely on intense stomach acid to dissolve, it is the preferred choice for mature adults, individuals using acid reducers (such as PPIs or H2 blockers), and anyone prone to sluggish digestion (Recker, New England Journal of Medicine, PMID: 4000241).
2. Vitamin D: The Intestinal Gatekeeper
Without sufficient Vitamin D, your intestines can only absorb an estimated 10% to 15% of the dietary calcium passing through them. Vitamin D interacts with intestinal epithelial cells to stimulate the synthesis of calbindin, a specialized transport protein that shuttles elemental calcium across the intestinal wall into the bloodstream (National Institutes of Health, Calcium & Vitamin D Dietary Fact Sheets; Weaver et al., Osteoporosis International, PMID: 26510847).
3. Magnesium: The Mineral Balancer
Roughly 60% of the body's total magnesium resides inside bone crystals. Magnesium serves as an essential co-factor for the 25-hydroxylase and 1-alpha-hydroxylase enzymes that convert Vitamin D into its biologically active hormonal form (calcitriol). Without adequate magnesium, supplemental calcium cannot be properly regulated and risks accumulating in arterial walls or kidneys rather than strengthening your skeletal frame (Uwitonze & Razzaque, Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, PMID: 29480918).
4. Albion™ Chelated Trace Minerals (Zinc, Copper, Manganese)
Bone is not just solid calcium; it is a living, flexible framework made of collagen protein reinforced with minerals. Zinc triggers osteoblast activity and alkaline phosphatase production, while Copper and Manganese serve as critical catalytic co-factors for lysyl oxidase, the enzyme that chemically knits collagen fibers together. NOW® utilizes genuine Albion™ TRAACS® bisglycinate chelates—organic forms where each mineral is molecularly wrapped in glycine amino acids. This prevents them from binding to dietary phytates or competing against calcium for gut transport pathways, providing smooth, undisturbed absorption (DiSilvestro, Biological Trace Element Research, PMID: 18030438).
Complete Supplement Facts & Ingredient Integrity
Every two-tablet serving delivers exact, scientifically verified quantities of elemental minerals. The amounts listed on the panel represent true elemental yield, not raw compound weights.
| Active Ingredient | Amount Per 2 Tablets | % Daily Value (DV) |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin D (as D2 Ergocalciferol) | 10 mcg (400 IU) | 50% |
| Calcium (from Calcium Citrate) | 600 mg | 46% |
| Magnesium (from Magnesium Oxide & Aspartate) | 300 mg | 71% |
| Zinc (from Zinc Bisglycinate) (Albion™) | 15 mg | 136% |
| Copper (from Copper Bisglycinate) (Albion™) | 1 mg | 111% |
| Manganese (from Manganese Bisglycinate) (Albion™) | 5 mg | 217% |
Serving Information: Serving Size: 2 Tablets. Servings Per Container: 125 (for 250-tablet bottle) / 50 (for 100-tablet bottle).
Other Ingredients: Hydroxypropyl Cellulose, Vegetarian Coating [hypromellose (cellulose), calcium carbonate, glycerin], Croscarmellose Sodium, Silicon Dioxide, Magnesium Stearate (vegetable source), Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, and Stearic Acid (vegetable source).
Allergen Free Guarantee: Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut, or sesame ingredients. Produced in an audited, certified Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
NOW® Analytical Lab Testing & Strict Contaminant Screening
Because minerals are naturally extracted from the earth, unrefined raw materials carry a high risk of environmental contamination. Many low-cost supplement companies cut corners by performing simple paper audits rather than physically testing their raw lots. NOW® operates one of the most advanced, privately held analytical testing facilities in the nutritional industry to ensure that every single batch exceeds industry benchmarks.
How NOW Verifies Every Tablet:- ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Accredited Laboratories: NOW's dedicated in-house labs hold independent ISO accreditation, the gold standard for calibration, precision, and analytical competence. Their laboratory team runs over 19,000 comprehensive tests every single month.
- ICP-MS Heavy Metal Detection: Utilizing Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), NOW screens raw mineral compounds down to parts per billion (ppb). This state-of-the-art instrument ensures that toxic heavy metals—including lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic—fall well within rigid USP safety specifications and California Proposition 65 limits.
- FTIR Identity Fingerprinting: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) creates a unique molecular structural spectrum for incoming materials, proving that the calcium is bound to citric acid and that the trace minerals are true Albion™ bisglycinate chelates.
- Rigorous Microbiological Screening: Finished lots are checked for microbial purity, verifying zero presence of Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, yeast, or mold.
NOW's manufacturing facilities are independently inspected and certified by third-party bodies including Intertek and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for strict cGMP compliance.
Dosage, Smart Timing & Real-World Precautions
Taking your supplements properly makes a dramatic difference in how much mineral content reaches your bones versus how much is eliminated without benefit.
The Divided Dose Rule (Why 1 Tablet Twice Daily Is Best)
The human gastrointestinal tract utilizes specialized active transport channels that become saturated when too much calcium is ingested at once. Research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition demonstrates that calcium absorption efficiency drops substantially when single doses exceed 500 mg of elemental calcium (Heaney et al., PMID: 3198504). For maximum retention, take 1 tablet in the morning with breakfast and 1 tablet in the evening with dinner, rather than swallowing both tablets together.
Critical Drug Interactions & Separation Windows
Because minerals have strong binding affinities, pay close attention to the following timing rules:
- Thyroid Medications (Levothyroxine, Synthroid): Calcium binds to thyroid hormone in the gut, severely blocking absorption. Take your thyroid medication on an empty stomach and wait at least 4 hours before taking your calcium supplement.
- Antibiotics (Tetracyclines & Fluoroquinolones): Calcium, magnesium, and zinc can chelate with antibiotics like ciprofloxacin or doxycycline, inactivating them. Separate by at least 2 to 4 hours.
- Iron Supplements: Calcium and iron compete directly for shared intestinal uptake pathways. If you take an iron supplement, take it with a different meal.