What is the calcium content in millimoles (mmol) in a 500 milligram (mg) Calcichew (calcium supplement) tablet?

From the Guidelines

A 500 mg Calcichew tablet contains 200 mg of elemental calcium, which is equivalent to 5 mmol of calcium. This calculation is based on the information provided in the study 1, which states that Calcium Carbonate, the compound found in Calcichew, contains 40% elemental calcium. To calculate the amount of calcium in mmol, we need to first calculate the amount of elemental calcium in the tablet, which is 500 mg * 0.4 = 200 mg. Since the atomic weight of calcium is approximately 40 g/mol, 1 g of calcium equals 25 mmol (1000 mmol ÷ 40), and therefore, 200 mg (0.2 g) of calcium equals 5 mmol (0.2 × 25).

Some key points to consider when calculating the calcium content in mmol include:

• The type of calcium compound used in the supplement, in this case, Calcium Carbonate
• The percentage of elemental calcium in the compound, which is 40% for Calcium Carbonate
• The atomic weight of calcium, which is approximately 40 g/mol
• The importance of accurate calculation for patients who need to track their calcium intake precisely, such as those with certain medical conditions or those following specific dietary requirements.

It is also important to note that Calcichew tablets are commonly used as calcium supplements to prevent or treat calcium deficiency, and knowing the exact amount in mmol can help ensure proper dosing, as mentioned in the study 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

Each chewable tablet contains: calcium 300 mg Active ingredient (in each chewable tablet) Calcium carbonate 750 mg

To determine the amount of calcium in a 500 mg calcichew tablet, we need to know the chemical composition of calcium carbonate.

• The molecular weight of calcium carbonate is approximately 100.09 g/mol.
• Calcium has a molecular weight of approximately 40.08 g/mol.
• The percentage of calcium in calcium carbonate is approximately 40.08 / 100.09 = 0.4 or 40%. Since the calcichew tablet contains calcium carbonate, we can calculate the amount of calcium in the tablet.
• A 500 mg calcichew tablet would contain approximately 500 mg * 0.4 = 200 mg of calcium. To convert milligrams of calcium to millimoles, we use the molecular weight of calcium.
• 1 mmol of calcium is equal to 40.08 mg.
• The number of mmol of calcium in a 500 mg calcichew tablet is approximately 200 mg / 40.08 mg/mmol = 5 mmol 2 2

From the Research

Calcium Content in Calcichew Tablet

To determine the amount of calcium in a 500 mg Calcichew tablet, we need to understand that Calcichew is a calcium supplement.

• The amount of elemental calcium in a 500 mg Calcichew tablet is not directly stated in the provided studies, but we can infer that a 500 mg Calcichew tablet contains 500 mg of elemental calcium, as the maximum dose of elemental calcium that should be taken at a time is 500 mg 3.
• To convert milligrams (mg) of calcium to millimoles (mmol), we use the atomic weight of calcium, which is approximately 40.08 g/mol.
• The conversion factor is: 1 mmol = (40.08 mg) / (1 mmol).
• Using this conversion factor, we can calculate the amount of calcium in mmol: 500 mg / 40.08 mg/mmol = approximately 12.5 mmol.

Calcium Absorption

• The absorption of calcium from different sources, including calcium carbonate and calcium citrate, has been studied 4, 5, 6, 7.
• These studies compared the absorption of calcium from various sources, but they do not provide direct information on the amount of calcium in a 500 mg Calcichew tablet.
• However, they suggest that calcium from different sources can be absorbed by the body, with varying degrees of efficiency 4, 5, 6, 7.