Calcium and calcium supplements help the body to function properly with an important role in bone growth and maintenance - so, it's an important supplement to consider. Calcium is often associated with dairy products as cow’s milk is among the foods richest in the element.
Remember being told to drink milk for healthy bones? Well, it’s true – dairy is great for maintaining healthy bones and teeth, as well as regulating heart rhythms and helping muscles to contract. But what if you don’t consume dairy products? Luckily, there are alternatives. Vegans may opt for calcium supplementation in lieu of dairy foods. But it’s worth noting that not all calcium supplements are vegan as some may contain elements of animal bones or oyster shells. If you are vegan and in search of some quality calcium supplements, be sure to check the label first to ascertain you have an appropriate product.
The best calcium supplements of 2024:
• Best overall calcium supplements: Vitabotics Ultra Calcium Supplements - View on Amazon
• Best budget calcium supplement: Holland and Barrett Chewable Calcium Supplement - View on Holland and Barrett
• Best vegan calcium supplement: My Vegan Calcium Supplement - View on My Protein
• Best preservative-free calcium supplement: Boots Calcium Supplement - View at Boots
Adults from the age of 19 need around 700mg of calcium every day but as people get older, they require more calcium – up to 1,200 mg for women beyond the age of 50 and men beyond the age of 71 – to maintain healthy bones.
If you consume a healthy balanced diet that includes dairy products, multivitamins, green leafy veg or a lot of bread, you should get all the calcium you need from your daily meals. If however, you are calcium deficient or tend to avoid calcium-rich foods, you may want to consider calcium supplementation instead. Calcium supplements are tablets of concentrated calcium taken to suffice your daily calcium intake without the need to consume calcium-rich foods. To help you find the right calcium supplements, here are a few of our favourites.
Best overall calcium supplements
These ultra calcium tablets from Vitabiotics pack a calcium dose of 1000mg and 20 micrograms of Vitamin D in two tablets. These powerful supplements contribute to the maintenance of healthy bones and teeth but also aid the process of cell division and neurotransmission. While powerful, there are cheaper alternatives on the market, as this pack contains just 30 for over £3.
Pros
- Powerful supplements
- Easy to take
Cons
- Small pack
| Strength: | 500mg |
| Number of tablets: | 30 |
- Customer review: "I needed to get over-the-counter calcium to treat osteopenia and it can be hard to find calcium without magnesium (mine is slightly elevated). These include Vitamin D, although I still take a supplement. Love that I can get it on subscription and at a good price."
Best budget calcium supplement
www.hollandandbarrett.com
These calcium supplements are chewable for easy consumption and benefit those who struggle with swallowing whole tablets. Each tablet provides 1500mg of calcium as well as a healthy dose of Vitamin D – a mineral that helps retain calcium while building healthy bones.
Holland and Barrett advise that consumers take three a day, thus deeming this product a one-month supply. However, at under £6, it’s still a bargain.
Pros
- Chewable to aid consumption
- Brilliant value
Cons
- Short supply
| Strength: | 1500mg |
| Number of tablets: | 90 |
- Customer review: "I was looking for something similar to AdCal-D3. These were a good option. Reasonably pleasant taste. Easy to chew, chalky tablets. Definitely buying again."
Best vegan calcium supplement
www.myprotein.com
These calcium supplements from My Protein combine the strengths of both calcium and magnesium into one powerful tablet. Just as calcium aids in the development and maintenance of healthy teeth, magnesium also plays an important role in the human body, supporting the nervous system, metabolism, and muscle function.
These two ingredients are essential for a healthy lifestyle. Suppose you suffer from a deficiency, these tablets from My Protein have you covered with a total of 90 of them.
Pros
- Great value
- Strong
Cons
- Harder to consume than the H&B choice
| Strength: | 800mg (calcium) |
| Number of tablets: | 90 |
- Customer review: "Because the daily intake is through two capsules, there's an opportunity to halve the intake if this works better. I tried the two capsules, and now experimenting with just one. This seems to work well."
Best preservative-free calcium supplements
www.boots.com
These back-to-basics calcium supplements from Boots pack a great dose of calcium as well as five micrograms of vitamin for calcium retention and normal body function. These tablets are free from any artificial flavours or preservatives and fit to last consumers 15 days, taking two tablets a day. Available for just 99p, they’re also incredibly cheap.
Pros
- Good supply with 180 tablets
- Free from preservatives
Cons
- Difficult to find at this price
| Strength: | 400mg |
| Number of tablets: | 30 |
- Customer review: "I checked out the amount of calcium in a range of products for bone health and found that these had exactly the same amount in them, but were a truly bargain price. I’ve now been prescribed calcium, and the tablets I’ve got are exactly the same. Brilliant value."
Best calcium supplements for children
www.naturesbest.co.uk
Like the Holland and Barrett calcium supplements, these supplements from Nature’s Best are also chewable. They’re sweetened with a natural lemon flavour, so they’re suitable for anyone over the age of four and go down a treat, though they still offer 400mg of calcium in every tablet as well as Vitamin D3 for the absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus.
Pros
- Great for children
- Actual flavour
Cons
- Could be too sweet
| Strength: | 400mg |
| Number of tablets: | 60 |
- Customer review: "As an older person I was told by my doctor to take extra calcium because I have osteoporosis and it would help me. I love the taste of them, they are so good to chew (unlike some)."
What does calcium do for the body?
Calcium plays an important role in maintaining healthy bones and teeth, but it also plays an essential role in regulating muscle contractions, including heartbeat rhythms. Calcium also aids in regular blood clotting so you don’t bleed out when you have a nosebleed.
What if I exceed the daily limit?
According to the NHS, taking too much calcium - beyond a daily limit of 1,500mg - can lead to stomach pain and diarrhoea, though taking 1,500mg or less a day is unlikely to have any grave consequences.
What are the symptoms of a calcium deficiency?
If you're wondering whether you might be calcium deficient, there are a few tell-tale symptoms. According to the NHS, these can include:
• Faintness
• Difficulty swallowing
• Low blood pressure
• Internal cramping
• Spinal/hip pain
• Loss of height
• Brittle nails and hair
If you are or have experienced any of these symptoms, we strongly advise visiting your doctor to diagnose the issue.
Seth Walton is an automotive product writer for Parkers and CAR. He is a contributor to What's The Best.
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