Does Pure Encapsulations carry calcium derived from coral?
No, we do not carry coral calcium. Coral calcium is composed of calcium carbonate and its absorption is based on the known properties of any calcium carbonate supplement. Calcium carbonate contains 40% calcium by weight as opposed to calcium citrate, which contains 21% calcium. However, the key difference between these two forms of calcium is their bioavailability. Calcium carbonate requires a substantial amount of acid to pry off the carbonate chelate and allow the calcium to be absorbed. Calcium citrate, on the other hand, is already acidic and therefore does not require a low pH in order to render the calcium available for absorption. Thus, while calcium carbonate supplements contain more calcium by weight, the majority of it is unavailable for tissue uptake. This can be a particularly important point when searching for the right calcium supplement, especially for those with low gastric acid levels common with aging. Even those with healthy stomach acid levels typically only absorb
