We have not changed our formula for any of our products. So, why have the supplement facts on Pharmaden’s OsteoTherapy bottle changed?
There have been drastic changes to the FDA’s regulations on daily values and how they can be listed on bottles.
We often get asked why OsteoTherapy’s bottle was altered from 1,000 mg of calcium to 200 mg of calcium (for a serving size of 4 capsules). If you didn’t know, there are many different forms of calcium. So, even though a serving (4 capsules) still contains 1,000 mg in calcium citrate the FDA now specifies we can only list the amount of elemental calcium, which is 200 mg.
But, don’t be alarmed that one serving does not contain 1,000 mg of elemental calcium. According to Harvard Health Publishing-Harvard Medical school research, taking a supplement with 1,000 – 1,200 mg of elemental calcium along with the calcium you get while eating an “average” diet could actually be putting you at risk of heart attack and kidney stones.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-much-calcium-do-you-really-need
We know that both calcium and vitamin D are essential in building bone. The question is, how much of each do we need?
Dr. Willet, chair of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, recommends taking 500 to 700 mg a day of calcium and 800 to 1,000 IU of vitamin D. That’s less calcium and more vitamin D than the guidelines suggest. At that rate, you can probably get all, or most, of your calcium from food – if you have good eating habits.
But how many people have really good eating habits?
Also important to note, if you can’t tolerate dairy you should still be able to get 300 mg of calcium a day in your diet and can take a low-dose calcium supplement to make up the rest.
The studies (which only refer to elemental calcium) suggest that if you consume 500 mg, or less, of calcium a day through supplements you should be able to avoid the possible risk of heart disease and kidney stones.
No worries though! You are safe taking Pharmaden’s OsteoTherapy, PerioTherapy, and PerioCare. As mentioned, OsteoTherapy contains 1,000 mg of high absorbing calcium citrate and only 200 mg of elemental calcium.
What are the benefits to calcium citrate? While Calcium citrate may be more expensive, dosing is more flexible. It can be taken any time of day, with or without food, because it’s absorbed equally well on an empty or full stomach. It is also a better choice for older people who produce less stomach acid or for those who take acid-blocking medications for heartburn, since it’s more easily absorbed with low levels of stomach acid compared to other types of calcium supplements.
80% of my perio patients and 50% of my non perio patients admit to average or poor eating habits. This is why your patients and your staff should supplement with a high absorbing, quality supplement to maintain bone health and help to remineralize and repair bone after implant placement, perio surgery, orthodontics, and extractions.
Dr. Ron Schefdore