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600 Calcium Supplement

21st Century

4.7
(4047 ratings)
Calcium 600 mg
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Score 40.0

A budget-friendly calcium carbonate supplement providing 600mg of calcium, but critically missing Vitamin D for optimal absorption and overall efficacy, making it less effective for bone and general health.

Quantity: 400 Tablet(s)Servings size: 1 Tablet(s) (400 servings)
Selected goals:
Other goals:
Bone Health
Heart Health
Joint Health
Muscle Gain
Fitness

Score 40.0

A budget-friendly calcium carbonate supplement providing 600mg of calcium, but critically missing Vitamin D for optimal absorption and overall efficacy, making it less effective for bone and general health.

Analysis

This product delivers a robust 600mg of elemental calcium per tablet, using Calcium Carbonate as its source. Calcium carbonate is a popular choice due to its high elemental calcium content and affordability. However, it requires an acidic environment for optimal absorption, meaning it should ideally be taken with food. A major shortfall here, which is echoed by many nutritionists and research, is the complete omission of Vitamin D. Vitamin D is indispensable for the intestines to absorb calcium from the diet and supplements. Without it, even a high dose of calcium like this will have reduced effectiveness for bone mineralization and other bodily functions. This makes the product a basic, potentially inefficient, calcium source.
Pros
  • High elemental calcium content per serving (600mg)
  • Cost-effective, especially with 400 servings per bottle
  • Easy to find and widely available
Cons
  • Completely lacks Vitamin D, which is essential for calcium absorption
  • Calcium Carbonate requires stomach acid for absorption, best taken with food, and can cause digestive issues like gas or constipation
  • Lacks other beneficial co-factors like Magnesium and Vitamin K for comprehensive bone health
Warnings
  • Individuals using this product must ensure adequate Vitamin D intake from other sources for calcium to be effectively absorbed.
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$11.99($0.02 per serving)
iHerb
$ 11.99
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Effectiveness for goals

Dosage, timing & forms

Safety & interactions

Ingredients

IngredientAmount per serving
Calcium
600 mg
Gluten Free Adults 18–50
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Categories

Offers a high dose of elemental calcium in an affordable form, but its fundamental flaw is the absence of Vitamin D, making it a less efficient and less effective calcium supplement compared to formulations that include this essential co-factor.

Goals

While providing a substantial amount of calcium, the complete lack of Vitamin D, which is critical for calcium absorption and bone integration, significantly compromises its effectiveness for supporting optimal bone density and health.
Offers a foundational level of calcium for bone structure, but the absence of Vitamin D means poor absorption, and lack of other joint-supportive nutrients limits its overall contribution to joint health beyond basic structural mineral supply.
Calcium is important for heart function, but without Vitamin D for proper utilization and Magnesium for balance, isolated high-dose calcium carbonate may not be optimally beneficial and could, in some cases, be associated with arterial calcification risks.
70 Value

600+D3

21st Century
4.8
(6905 ratings)
This product is almost identical to the original but crucially includes 20mcg of Vitamin D3 for proper calcium absorption and utilization, at a very similar, affordable price. It offers significantly better value for actual bone health benefits.
75 Value

Calcium 1000 mg

21st Century
4.7
(9892 ratings)
A very cost-effective option providing a substantial 1000mg Calcium Carbonate with essential Vitamin D3. This offers significantly more elemental calcium and crucial D3 at a great price, making it a much better value for bone health.
80 Value

600 + D3 plus Minerals

21st Century
4.8
(1551 ratings)
Delivers 600mg Calcium Carbonate with Vitamin D3 and a range of other bone-supporting minerals (Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Boron) at an excellent price point. It's a much more complete and cost-effective bone health supplement than plain calcium.
95 Performance

Raw Calcium

Garden of Life Vitamin Code
4.6
(4135 ratings)
A vastly superior alternative featuring whole-food, algae-based calcium (1100mg) combined with crucial co-factors like Vitamin D3, Vitamin K, and Magnesium, plus various trace minerals. It offers a holistic and highly bioavailable approach to bone health.
90 Performance

Bone Solid

Country Life
4.6
(725 ratings)
Offers a comprehensive bone complex with Microcrystalline Hydroxyapatite (MCHA) calcium, which is a natural bone matrix, alongside robust doses of Vitamin D3, Vitamin K, Magnesium, and other minerals. This is far more advanced and effective than basic calcium carbonate.
85 Performance

Calcium + Vitamin D

Swisse Ultiboost
4.6
(1270 ratings)
Provides a blend of highly absorbable calcium citrate and common calcium carbonate (1020mg total) along with essential Vitamin D3. This offers a more bioavailable and comprehensive calcium solution compared to solely calcium carbonate, making it better value despite a higher initial cost.
60 Budget

600 Calcium Supplement

21st Century
4.7
(4047 ratings)
This is essentially the same product but likely a smaller pack size, offering a similar calcium dose at a potentially slightly different price. Given the original lacks D3, this is a comparable basic, budget-friendly option.
65 Budget

Calcium 500+D3

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4.8
(5027 ratings)
An incredibly inexpensive choice that provides 500mg of oyster-derived calcium (calcium carbonate) with a small amount of Vitamin D3. It's a straightforward and very cheap alternative for basic calcium and D3 needs, offering more for less.
70 Budget

Calcium 500 + D3

21st Century
4.8
(4030 ratings)
A highly affordable tablet delivering 500mg of oyster shell calcium and a good dose of Vitamin D3. It's a cost-effective way to get calcium with D3, offering much better nutritional completeness than the original's plain calcium.
70 Value

600+D3

21st Century
4.8
(6905 ratings)
This product is almost identical to the original but crucially includes 20mcg of Vitamin D3 for proper calcium absorption and utilization, at a very similar, affordable price. It offers significantly better value for actual bone health benefits.
75 Value

Calcium 1000 mg

21st Century
4.7
(9892 ratings)
A very cost-effective option providing a substantial 1000mg Calcium Carbonate with essential Vitamin D3. This offers significantly more elemental calcium and crucial D3 at a great price, making it a much better value for bone health.
80 Value

600 + D3 plus Minerals

21st Century
4.8
(1551 ratings)
Delivers 600mg Calcium Carbonate with Vitamin D3 and a range of other bone-supporting minerals (Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Boron) at an excellent price point. It's a much more complete and cost-effective bone health supplement than plain calcium.
95 Performance

Raw Calcium

Garden of Life Vitamin Code
4.6
(4135 ratings)
A vastly superior alternative featuring whole-food, algae-based calcium (1100mg) combined with crucial co-factors like Vitamin D3, Vitamin K, and Magnesium, plus various trace minerals. It offers a holistic and highly bioavailable approach to bone health.
90 Performance

Bone Solid

Country Life
4.6
(725 ratings)
Offers a comprehensive bone complex with Microcrystalline Hydroxyapatite (MCHA) calcium, which is a natural bone matrix, alongside robust doses of Vitamin D3, Vitamin K, Magnesium, and other minerals. This is far more advanced and effective than basic calcium carbonate.
85 Performance

Calcium + Vitamin D

Swisse Ultiboost
4.6
(1270 ratings)
Provides a blend of highly absorbable calcium citrate and common calcium carbonate (1020mg total) along with essential Vitamin D3. This offers a more bioavailable and comprehensive calcium solution compared to solely calcium carbonate, making it better value despite a higher initial cost.
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