Calcium Content in Tums
Tums contains 40% elemental calcium by weight, with standard Tums providing 300 mg of elemental calcium per tablet and Tums Extra Strength containing 300 mg of elemental calcium per 750 mg tablet. 1, 2
Calcium Content in Different Tums Formulations
- Regular Tums tablets contain calcium carbonate 750 mg, which provides 300 mg of elemental calcium (40% of the calcium carbonate weight) 1
- Tums Extra Strength (TUMS EX™) contains 750 mg of calcium carbonate, providing 300 mg of elemental calcium 3
- Tums Ultra contains 1,000 mg of calcium carbonate, providing 400 mg of elemental calcium (40%) 3
- Tums 500 contains 1,250 mg of calcium carbonate, providing 500 mg of elemental calcium (40%) 3
Understanding Calcium Carbonate as a Supplement
- Calcium carbonate is the most common and cost-effective form of calcium supplementation, providing 40% elemental calcium by weight 2
- To obtain 1,500 mg of elemental calcium (the amount sometimes recommended for therapeutic supplementation), one would need to take 5 regular Tums tablets 3
- Calcium carbonate requires stomach acid for optimal absorption and should ideally be taken with meals 2
Clinical Considerations When Using Tums for Calcium Supplementation
- The recommended dietary calcium intake varies by age and sex: 1,000 mg for adults 19-50 years and men 51-70 years; 1,200 mg for women over 50 and men over 70 3
- When using calcium supplements, doses exceeding 500 mg of elemental calcium should be divided throughout the day to improve absorption 2
- Calcium carbonate supplements like Tums may cause constipation and bloating more frequently than other calcium formulations 3, 2
- Upper intake levels should not exceed 2,500 mg per day for adults 19-50 years and 2,000 mg per day for those over 50 years 3
Absorption Considerations
- Calcium carbonate has been shown to have good bioavailability, particularly when taken with meals 4
- For those with low stomach acid or on acid-reducing medications, calcium citrate may be better absorbed than the calcium carbonate in Tums 2
- A single dose of 500 mg calcium appears to be the optimal amount for absorption, with only slight increases in absorption at higher doses 5