Question

Which would be more effective: a single "megadose" of a calcium once a day or a smaller supplement with each meal?

Answer 1

the smaller supplement is better absorbed than single megadose.

Calcium is best absorbed when it is taken less than or equal to 500mg at once at mealtime. The daily dose is calcium is 1000mg per day so, 500mg after the meal in the morning and 500mg after the meal in the evening will cause most calcium absorption.

Calcium is absorbed in the small intestine. It is absorbed by 2 mechanisms mostly, a transcellular active transport process which is located in duodenum and upper jejunum and a paracellular process (which is a passive process) that functions throughout the length of the intestine.

Large doses of calcium at once cause the saturation of the transporters and calcium is not completely absorbed as it overwhelms the transporters. whereas the smaller doses are absorbed the most as there will be enough transporters to calcium ratio.

If the body has enough calcium, the transporters do not pick up the calcium even when small doses are taken.

The transporters are expressed on the small intestine based on the need of the calcium in the body. A person taking calcium on a long term basis would have less number of calcium transporters expressed in his small intestine that a person who is having calcium deficiency.