Calcium Content in Regular Multivitamins
Most standard multivitamins contain little to no calcium, typically providing 0-200 mg of elemental calcium at most, which is far below daily requirements of 1000-1200 mg for most adults.
Why Multivitamins Contain Minimal Calcium
- Calcium is a bulky mineral that would make multivitamin tablets impractically large if included at therapeutic doses 1
- The recommended daily intake is 1000 mg for adults 19-50 years and 1200 mg for women over 50 and men over 70 1
- A single 500 mg calcium carbonate tablet contains only 200 mg of elemental calcium (40% elemental content), requiring multiple large tablets to meet daily needs 1
Specific Nutrient Content in Multivitamins
Based on bariatric surgery guidelines that specify multivitamin content, a routine daily multivitamin typically contains 1:
- Calcium: Not routinely included in meaningful amounts
- Iron: 45-60 mg elemental iron
- Zinc: 15 mg
- Copper: 2 mg
- Vitamin A: 6000 IU
- Folic acid: 400 μg
- Vitamin B-12: 250-350 μg daily
- Thiamin: Per DRI recommendations
- Vitamin C: Per DRI recommendations
Clinical Implications
Patients requiring adequate calcium intake must obtain it through diet or separate calcium supplements, not from their multivitamin 1.
- Dietary sources remain the preferred approach to meeting calcium requirements 1
- When diet is insufficient, dedicated calcium supplements providing 500-600 mg per dose should be used 1
- Calcium supplements should be taken separately from multivitamins containing iron, with at least 2-hour intervals between doses 1
- Maximum absorption occurs with divided doses of 500 mg or less of elemental calcium at a time 1, 2, 3
Common Pitfall
Do not assume a multivitamin provides adequate calcium for bone health - this is a frequent misconception that can lead to inadequate calcium intake, particularly in postmenopausal women and elderly adults who require 1200-1500 mg daily 1, 4.