COMPARATIVE ABSORPTION OF CALCIUM FROM CARBONATE TABLETS, LACTOGLUCONATE CARBONATE EFFERVESCENT TABLET, AND CHLORIDE SOLUTION

Intestinal absorption of calcium from three different labelled calcium preparations (all containing 500 mg elemental calcium) was determined using the whole body retention and urinary excretion of Ca-47 in 14 normal subjects. Chewable calcium carbonate tablets showed a significantly (p < 0.05) better mean minimum absorption of calcium (25.6% in exp.I, 22.8% in exp.II) than calcium given in the form of a lactogluconate/carbonate effervescent tablet, (17%), but similar to calcium in a chloride solution (24.7%). The minimum calcium absorption varied from 85 to 128 mg. All the preparations were taken with standardized low calcium test meals.