Cal-Mag

[Citruskiss]

Ok - this is a weird question, but I'm going to ask anyway.

Does anyone think that calcium can interfere with magnesium absorption? I know this sounds kind of silly because most supplements combine calcium and magnesium, but I'm 'wondering'.

Is there a reason to take magnesium as a separate supplement, rather than the usual 2:1 ratio of cal-mag?

And is a 1:1 ratio of cal-mag better somehow?

I'm curious as to what others think about this.

[Zuleikaa]

Ok - this is a weird question, but I'm going to ask anyway.

Does anyone think that calcium can interfere with magnesium absorption? I know this sounds kind of silly because most supplements combine calcium and magnesium, but I'm 'wondering'.

Is there a reason to take magnesium as a separate supplement, rather than the usual 2:1 ratio of cal-mag?

And is a 1:1 ratio of cal-mag better somehow?

I'm curious as to what others think about this.As you supplement with vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium your deficiencies improve and you start rebuilding muscle and bone as well as improve deficiencies in these elements. As time goes on, you need less calcium both because the needed muscle and bone repair due to deficit slows/stops and because your body, now replete with vitamin D and magnesium uses calcium more efficiently...your body needs less to do the same job/results. That is why calcium supplementation needs decrease over time and why the ratio of magnesium to calcium rises to 1:1.

[Citruskiss]

Thank you Zuleikaa - that makes a lot of sense.

[Gostrydr]

Vic Conte..yes he of Balco and Barry Bonds, is the leading mineral expert in the world along with Dr. Brilla..
They both unequivocally state that calcium and magnesium should not be taken together.
They work with top athletes and have shown through blood work that calcium will affect magnesium absorption..they claim that calcium is the most "beligerent" of all minerals. So they suggest you take magnesium with zinc before bedtime. Of course the results they see are tremendous
That being said, calcium and magnesium occur together in the foods we eat so I'm not sure if mag and calcium in USP vitamins are the problem..


I'll look around a bit for some solid articles. They used to both be in Muscle Media years ago when it was a great, viable publication

[Citruskiss]

Vic Conte..yes he of Balco and Barry Bonds, is the leading mineral expert in the world along with Dr. Brilla..
They both unequivocally state that calcium and magnesium should not be taken together.
They work with top athletes and have shown through blood work that calcium will affect magnesium absorption..they claim that calcium is the most "beligerent" of all minerals. So they suggest you take magnesium with zinc before bedtime. Of course the results they see are tremendous
That being said, calcium and magnesium occur together in the foods we eat so I'm not sure if mag and calcium in USP vitamins are the problem..


I'll look around a bit for some solid articles. They used to both be in Muscle Media years ago when it was a great, viable publication

Thank you!

I knew there was something to this, and I don't know where I was starting to get this idea from. I'd heard stories from people on these forums who say they just take the magnesium, or that they'd take separate supplements, and was really wondering why - since these two are so often sold as one supplement as 'cal-mag'.

When I go a bit too hard core on induction-level carbs, sometimes I'm hit with those cramps. And I can never seem to get on top of what the issue might be. Meanwhile - I think my husband just takes the magnesium by itself (he went and bought a separate bottle), and here I'm using up the cal-mag I had. He doesn't get the cramps, but I do. We're on the same diet and so on.

I'm not sure if this is going to solve the cramps issue, and I've already moved into a slightly more 'generous' plan (Protein Power Life Plan instead of Atkins induction), and that's stopped the cramps for the most part. A lot more vegetables and very small low-carb fruit portion. So far, I think it's working.

But, I was always 'curious' about this cal-mag thing. Why sometimes 2:1 and other times 1:1, and then hearing that magnesium's good without the calcium.

In fact, in the Protein Power Life Plan (don't have my book handy next to the computer here), there's a chart for vitamins at the back - and calcium is actually listed as 'optional'.

Interesting eh?

edited to add: yes, in the PPLP book - there's a chart in the appendix, called "Micronutrient Roundup" - it's a chart showing which amounts of what to try to get in - and calcium is indeed listed as "Optional" in brackets, and the amount listed is only 300mg. I'm taking a cal-mag that's 1000mg calcium to 500mg magnesium. This requires four capsules a day. Two in morning, two in evening. So maybe I don't need quite that much calcium, and maybe I don't want to take them together...like I said, 'interesting'.

Thanks for this. :)

[Gostrydr]

Citruskiss..the calcium issue really is one big pain in the arse..there is so much contradictaory info out there..suggestions for use.etc.
I know alot of experts who insist that we as a nation are over calcified..we take in way too much calcium..and these same people state that we lack adequate magnesium.

Here is what some suggest to me. In addition to your multi..
Eat a small block of cheese a day or sip soup stock from bones. That would be my calcium for the day.

Take in at least 500-1000 mgs of Magnesium making sure to take in at least 500 before bed.

Asporotate is my preferred form of it.
Now if you find that mag in the day makes you sleepy, then forgo that dose and take it before bed.

Now if I had osteopenia or osteoperosis I would take in 1200-1500 mgs of supplemental calcium in a addition to my food..as Zuliekka has so eloquently stated, I would make sure my D-3 was a sufficient amount to help with absorption...and it should be taken with your dose of calcium

But again , it is really an individual thing so tinker with this and make it your own.

[Citruskiss]

Thanks again - this is very helpful, and I really appreciate it :)

I'm going to try just the magnesium (ie. a separate supplment), and stick with taking it before bed. I don't have osteoporosis etc.

That said, I don't eat dairy...so I'll maybe take a small amount of calcium, but at a different time. Perhaps Eades' suggestion of the optional 300mg or something. Or soup, like you suggested.

And I have to agree - the little 'info' that I've come across about this calcium thing is kind of confusing, contradictory and so on. Maybe that's what was nagging at me.

[Citruskiss]

Just an update - came across this magnesium product (Natural Calm) that claims too much calcium *can* interfere with magnesium absorption.

Magnesium deficiency can be caused by a number of things, including-but not limited to-lack of adequate dietary magnesium, emotional stress, some drugs (diuretics, antibiotics, birth control pills, insulin, cortisone), heavy exercise, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders and excessive calcium in the diet

from: http://www.petergillham.com/product-line/peter-gillhams-natural-calm.php

I didn't buy the product, just noticed it in the health food store and read the label. Still haven't figured out my supplements yet - but have reduced calcium a bit, especially since noticing that chart in PPLP - where calcium is listed as 'optional' at 300mg suggested daily.

I'm using up these supplements I have - so right now I'm getting about 500mg calcium and 375 magnesium daily for the past couple of days.

Once I use these up, I'll get a separate small-dose calcium, take it with D3 like I'm supposed to, and a separate magnesium supplement. I'll keep taking the calcium since I don't eat dairy foods. Just to cover all my bases a bit.

No obvious electrolyte or cramping issues - so something's working 'ok' so far.

Anyway - just thought it was interesting how calcium is 'aggressive' as you said, and could potentially interfere with magnesium. I'd been suspicious of this for awhile.

Sara