Calcium: which form, what each one does, and the dose that worked
Calcium comes in many forms, and what it does depends on the form. Every result below names the form it came from. Pick the form you take to see its own studies, products and what the biohackers say about it. This page is educational, not medical advice.
What it does, by goalMembersThe top 5 of 18 goals
3 of these 125 human studies gave calcium by drip, injection or inhaler, not by mouth.
| Goal | What the studies show | Studies | Dose that worked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Improved in studies Carbonate: 6 of 12 improved, 1 no effect | 12 | carbonate 420 mg | |
| Improved in studies Carbonate: 2 of 4 improved, 1 no effect · Lactate: 1 of 1 improved | 5 | carbonate 1 g · lactate 2 g | |
| Improved in studies Carbonate: 2 of 13 improved, 3 no effect · Citrate: 1 study, no effect | 14 | – | |
| Improved in studies Citrate: 2 of 2 improved | 2 | citrate 600 mg | |
| Improved in studies Hydroxyapatite: 2 of 2 improved · 1 by drip, injection or inhaler | 2 | – | |
| Improved in studies Gluconate: 1 of 2 improved · Carbonate: 2 studies, 1 no effect | 4 | gluconate 10 mg | |
| Improved in studies Gluconate: 1 of 1 improved · Carbonate: 1 study, no clear result · 1 by drip, injection or inhaler | 2 | – | |
| Improved in studies From algae: 1 of 1 improved | 1 | from algae 900 mg | |
| Too few studies Carbonate: 3 of 24 improved, 9 no effect · Lactate: 1 study, no clear result | 25 | carbonate 500 mg | |
| Too few studies Carbonate: 1 of 2 improved, 1 no effect · Citrate: 2 studies, 1 no effect · Lactate: 1 study, no effect | 5 | carbonate 2 g | |
| Too few studies Gluconate: 1 study, no clear result | 1 | – | |
| Too few studies Lactate: 1 study, no clear result · 1 by drip, injection or inhaler | 1 | – | |
| Too few studies Citrate: 1 study, no clear result | 1 | – | |
| No effect in studies Carbonate: 13 of 47 improved, 19 no effect | 47 | carbonate 300 mg | |
| No effect in studies Carbonate: 2 of 3 improved, 1 no effect | 3 | carbonate 1.2 g | |
| No effect in studies Carbonate: 2 studies, 1 no effect | 2 | – | |
| No effect in studies Carbonate: 1 study, no effect | 1 | – | |
| No effect in studies Carbonate: 1 study, no effect | 1 | – |
Members see which goal each result is for, and the products for it. Start My 7-Day Free Trial →
Products – highest ranked firstMembersThe top 3 of 43
Members see the products, their ranking and the reasons. Start My 7-Day Free Trial →
Dose and safetyThe dose that worked and the upper limit
The doses that worked, by form, in the studies taken by mouth: carbonate 300 mg to 2 g, citrate 600 mg, lactate 2 g, gluconate 10 mg, from algae 900 mg a day.
The upper limit for adults is 2,500 mg of calcium a day, counted as the calcium itself, not the weight of the compound; above it, members see a note and are told they can take less.
Biohacker panelMembersWhich forms of calcium our 10 biohackers name
Questions people askMembersAnswered from the figures on this page
Which form of calcium is best?
Answer for members.
How much calcium a day?
Answer for members.
Can I take calcium with my meds?
Answer for members.
Members see the answers, checked against their own meds and goals. Start My 7-Day Free Trial →
Educational, not medical advice. Figures come from the human studies on PubMed we have graded; a study counts for a form when it names the form it used. Updated as new studies arrive. How we grade →