Calcium + Magnesium + D3 Tablets

Calcium + magnesium + D3 tablets put the three nutrients bone mineral is built from into one tablet: 400 mg calcium, 200 mg magnesium and 10 mcg (400 IU) vitamin D3. One a day, 90 tablets, a three-month supply.

Why these three together

Calcium is the mineral in bone; vitamin D is what gets it absorbed from the gut; magnesium is required by the enzymes that convert vitamin D into its active form and makes up part of the bone matrix itself. Calcium contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism, normal muscle function, normal neurotransmission and the maintenance of normal bones and teeth. Magnesium contributes to normal muscle function, electrolyte balance and the maintenance of normal bones. Vitamin D contributes to the normal absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus, to normal blood calcium levels, to the maintenance of normal bones and teeth, to normal muscle function and to the normal function of the immune system.

What the doses mean

400 mg of calcium is half the EU reference intake — deliberately, because the rest should come from food, and single large calcium doses are absorbed less efficiently than smaller ones. 200 mg of magnesium covers 53% of the reference intake. The 10 mcg of D3 is a baseline: through autumn and winter, or if you spend the day indoors, a separate vitamin D3 2000 IU capsule is the usual addition.

Who it suits

People who eat little dairy, anyone on a plant-based diet, adults over 50 as bone turnover shifts, and women around and after menopause. Vitamin K2 MK-7 is the natural fourth nutrient here: it activates osteocalcin, the protein that binds calcium into bone, and is not included in this tablet.

How to take it

One tablet a day with a meal — calcium carbonate needs stomach acid to dissolve, so food matters more than with other minerals. Keep it an hour away from iron and zinc supplements and from thyroid medication, all of which calcium interferes with. The magnesium here is magnesium oxide; if you want magnesium specifically, a better-absorbed form such as magnesium bisglycinate is the one to add.

What is in each tablet

• Calcium (as calcium carbonate) — 400 mg, 50% NRV
• Magnesium (as magnesium oxide) — 200 mg, 53% NRV
• Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) — 10 mcg (400 IU), 200% NRV
• One tablet a day, with food — 90 tablets, three months

Questions people ask

Do I need calcium if I eat dairy?

Often not. This tablet is for diets low in dairy and fortified foods, or when bone health is the specific concern.

Morning or evening?

Either, with a meal. If you take iron in the morning, put this one at dinner.

Is the magnesium dose enough on its own?

It covers half the daily requirement, in the oxide form. For a dedicated dose see minerals.

Good to know. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. Food supplements should not replace a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Talk to your doctor before use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.