⛔
Regulatory ban. This ingredient is banned or restricted in one or more countries. See Regulatory Status below.
⚠️
Major drug interaction. This ingredient has clinically significant drug interactions. See Drug Interactions below before use.
SAFE

Calcium

Likely Safe V5 Verified Minerals
Scan supplement →
Upper Safe Limit
2,500mg/day (EU UL — adults)
PubMed Studies
15,451
PubChem CID
About

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, essential for bone and teeth formation, muscle contraction, and nerve signalling. EU approved claims include: needed for maintenance of normal bones and teeth.

How it works (mechanism of action)

Structural component of hydroxyapatite in bone. Required for muscle contraction (troponin-tropomyosin regulation), nerve impulse transmission, and blood clotting.

⚖️ Regulatory Status
⛔
FR — Banned
ANSES recommended ban of kava following hepatotoxicity signals from nutrivigilance system.
⛔
NZ — Banned
Medsafe NZ — ephedrine alkaloid supplements banned following FDA and TGA action.
⛔
NL — Banned
NVWA prohibition (2004).
⛔
MY — Banned
NPRA Malaysia — ephedra and ephedrine alkaloid supplements prohibited.
⛔
SA — Banned
SFDA Saudi Arabia — ephedra and ephedrine alkaloid supplements prohibited. Controlled as prescription drug.
⛔
SE — Banned
Livsmedelsverket Sweden prohibition aligned with EU Directive 2002/46/EC.
⛔
IT — Banned
Italian Ministry of Health — ephedra and ephedrine alkaloid supplements prohibited under EU Directive 2002/46/EC.
⛔
AE — Banned
UAE MOH prohibition — ephedra supplements banned. Ephedrine controlled as pharmaceutical.
⛔
SG — Banned
HSA Singapore prohibition (2004) — ephedra alkaloid supplements prohibited.
⛔
ID — Banned
BPOM Indonesia — ephedra and ephedrine alkaloid supplements prohibited.
⛔
PH — Banned
FDA Philippines — ephedra and ephedrine alkaloid-containing food supplements banned following international regulatory action.
⛔
PL — Banned
GIS Poland prohibition aligned with EU Directive 2002/46/EC.
⛔
EU — Banned
European Commission ban (2002) under Directive 2002/46/EC — all ephedra and ephedrine alkaloid supplements.
⛔
ES — Banned
AEMPS Spain prohibition aligned with EU ban on ephedrine alkaloid supplements.
⛔
DK — Banned
Banned (2023) — Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA). Liver toxicity and thyroid disruption reports. All preparations ordered off market.
⛔
DE — Banned
BfArM banned kava-containing products in Germany in 2002 due to hepatotoxicity risk. Cases of liver failure and death reported.
⛔
US — Banned
FDA ban (2004) — cardiovascular adverse events and deaths. Final rule 21 CFR 119. All ephedrine alkaloids banned from dietary supplements.
⛔
CH — Banned
Swissmedic banned kava in Switzerland due to hepatotoxicity.
⛔
CA — Banned
Health Canada ban (2002) — all ephedra and ephedrine alkaloid-containing supplements.
⛔
BE — Banned
FASFC Belgium prohibition aligned with EU Directive 2002/46/EC.
⛔
AU — Banned
TGA ban (2003) — cardiovascular adverse events. Ephedra alkaloids banned from complementary medicines.
⛔
PT — Banned
ASAE Portugal prohibition aligned with EU ban on ephedrine alkaloid supplements.
⚠️
TH — Restricted
FDA Thailand — ephedrine controlled as pharmaceutical. Not permitted in food supplements.
⚠️
IN — Restricted
CDSCO India (2004) — available only under prescription as pharmaceutical products.
⚠️
TW — Restricted
TFDA Taiwan — ephedrine controlled as pharmaceutical drug. Not permitted as health food ingredient. Products with ephedra claims require pharmaceutical registration.
⚠️
ZA — Restricted
SAHPRA (2004) — Schedule 2; pharmacist oversight required.
⚠️
KR — Restricted
MFDS South Korea (2003) — maximum dose restrictions. Not permitted for weight loss products.
⚠️
JP — Restricted
MHLW Japan (2003) — maximum dose limits; not permitted for weight loss marketing. Ephedrine controlled under pharmaceutical regulations.
⚠️
IE — Restricted
FSAI monitoring (2024) following Danish ban and hepatotoxicity reports. Products without adequate safety data may face withdrawal.
⚠️
HK — Restricted
Department of Health Hong Kong — ephedrine-containing preparations controlled as pharmaceutical products. Not permitted as health food supplements without pharmaceutical registration.
⚠️
GB — Restricted
MHRA (2004) — ephedrine alkaloid supplements restricted. Maximum doses apply under the Medicines Act.
⚠️
CN — Restricted
NMPA China — Ma Huang (ephedra) controlled. Ephedrine alkaloid content restrictions; not permitted for weight loss products. Export of ephedra controlled internationally.
💊
AT — Prescription only
AGES Austria — melatonin classified as prescription-only medicinal product. Not permitted as food supplement.
📊 Effectiveness
Bone health
Evidence Grade A · 42 studies · n=8,200 · Meta-analysis available
Effective
Blood pressure
Evidence Grade B · 28 studies · n=5,800
Possibly Effective

Evidence grades: A=Strong RCT evidence · B=Good clinical trials · C=Limited trials · D=Preliminary/traditional

👥 Safety by Population
PopulationSafety RatingMax Safe Dose
Kidney diseasePossibly unsafeReduce dose
GeneralLikely safe2500mg/day
PregnancyLikely safe1000mg/day
ChildrenLikely safe800-1300mg/day (age-dependent)
ElderlyPossibly safeMax 1200mg/day from all sources
🚫 Contraindications & Warnings

Take split doses max 500mg — absorption limited per dose. High doses may increase risk of kidney stones and cardiovascular events in susceptible individuals.

💊 Drug Interactions (8)
🔴 Bisphosphonates
Major
Bone resorption inhibitors
Management: Separate by at least 2 hours. Bisphosphonates should be taken on empty stomach.
🔴 Digoxin
Major
Cardiac glycosides
Management: Monitor serum calcium in patients on digoxin. Avoid excessive calcium supplementation.
🟡 Iron
Moderate
Minerals
Management: Separate iron and calcium by at least 2 hours. Take iron away from meals for best absorption.
🟡 Levothyroxine
Moderate
Thyroid hormones
Management: Take levothyroxine at least 4 hours before or after calcium supplements.
🟡 Iron supplements
Moderate
Minerals
Management: Separate calcium and iron supplements by 2+ hours. Iron before meals, calcium with meals.
🟡 Metformin
Moderate
Antidiabetics
Management: Separate dosing by 2 hours.
🟡 Atenolol
Moderate
Beta-blockers
Management: Separate by 2 hours.
⚪ Amlodipine
Minor
Calcium channel blockers
Management: Use typical doses ≤1000mg/day. Monitor BP.
🇪🇺 EU Health Claims Status
Art.13(1)
✓ Authorised
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, the evidence provided is insufficient to substantiate this claimed effect for this food.
Regulation EU 1924/2006 · ART13 1
Art.13(1)
✓ Authorised
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food is not sufficiently defined to be able to be assessed and the claim could not therefore be substantiated.
Regulation EU 1924/2006 · ART13 1
Art.13(1)
✓ Authorised
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
Regulation EU 1924/2006 · ART13 1
Art.13(1)
✓ Authorised
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, the evidence provided is insufficient to substantiate this claimed effect for this food.
Regulation EU 1924/2006 · ART13 1
Art.13(1)
✓ Authorised
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
Regulation EU 1924/2006 · ART13 1
Art.13(1)
✓ Authorised
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, the evidence provided is insufficient to substantiate this claimed effect for this food.
Regulation EU 1924/2006 · ART13 1
Art.13(1)
✓ Authorised
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
Regulation EU 1924/2006 · ART13 1
Art.13(1)
✓ Authorised
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
Regulation EU 1924/2006 · ART13 1
Art.13(1)
✓ Authorised
Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated.
Regulation EU 1924/2006 · ART13 1
Art.14(1)(b)
✓ Authorised
The claim can be used only for food which is at least a source of calcium as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation 1924/2006.
Regulation EU 1924/2006 · ART14
⚠️ Adverse Effects (1)
Possible increased MI risk
dose-dependent (>1000mg/day supplements) Moderate
Cardiovascular system
Meta-analyses suggest modest cardiovascular risk from calcium supplements without co-supplemented K2. Split doses, take with K2.
Products containing this ingredient (16)
🏷️ Other Names
Calcium carbonate Calcium citrate Calcium citrate malate Calcium phosphate Calcium malate Calcium gluconate
References (10)
  1. National Institutes of Health. Vitamin D: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. 2023. Available from: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/   Reference   Source ↗
  2. National Institutes of Health. Zinc: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. 2022. Available from: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/   Reference   Source ↗
  3. National Institutes of Health. Magnesium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. 2022.   Reference   Source ↗
  4. National Institutes of Health. Vitamin C: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. 2021. Available from: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/   Reference   Source ↗
  5. Bouillon R, et al. Endocr Rev. 2019;40(4):1109-51.   SR/Meta-analysis   PubMed ↗
  6. Wessels I, Maywald M, Rink L. Nutrients. 2017;9(12):1286.   SR/Meta-analysis   PubMed ↗
  7. EFSA. EFSA J. 2016;14(10):4547.   Regulatory document   DOI ↗
  8. Abbasi B, et al. J Res Med Sci. 2012;17(12):1161-9.   RCT   PubMed ↗
  9. European Commission. Regulation (EU) No 432/2012. Off J Eur Union. 2012;L 136:1-40.   Regulatory document   Source ↗
  10. Hallberg L, Hulthén L. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;71(5):1147-60.   RCT   PubMed ↗

Evidence grades: SR = Systematic review / meta-analysis (highest) · RCT = Randomized controlled trial · Reg = Regulatory/official guidance

Updated: 2026-04-11
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