TUMS??? - Osteoporosis Message Board

TaniaF · 09-08-2003, 06:48 PM

After all the research I have done on osteoporosis and calcium supplements, three rheumatologists have said to take Tums. I can't believe that they do not understand the importance of magnesium, vitamin D and Boron. Are these drs. ignorant or don't they have a clue about nutrition? I have a pretty bad case of osteoporosis and am taking Actonel (even though I wish I didn't have to). My DEXA got worse this year--the only thing I can think of is that I don't exercise much and do not like to sit out in the sun. I'm finding how important these daily factors are. Anyway, I'm just curious if the TUMS has really helped anyone as their calcium supplement? And how many doctors have told their patients to take them?
Tania

USAFMOM · 09-08-2003, 07:01 PM

I guess I'm curious about this too. I know vitamin D is absolutely needed with the calcium, but the vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, stored in the body, so it should be enough to make sure you get it in your diet each day thus allowing you to take calcium, like Tums, without vitamin D coupled directly with the calcium. Does this make sense to anybody else? If this is right, then Tums would be definitely the cheapest calcium on the market, and able to give you as much calcium as any other supplement, as long as you are taking a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement too. Does anybody have any info on this?

pippismom · 09-10-2003, 09:15 AM

I too have been told to take Tums....and my scan was bad....

All I can say it....do your own research Always!!! I hate to think of all the time wasted and bones weakened....as I sat around munching antacids....I should have least been eating the chews with added D and K. Now I take caltrate....chews and a multi. Yogurt and soy milk....low fat cheeses.
Good Luck!!!!

LadyKatherine · 09-16-2003, 11:07 PM

The doctors that are telling people to take TUMS as a source of calcium must not have done very well in their basic medical science classes!! TUMS contains calcium carbonate. The reason why it is used in an anit-acid is because this type of calcium is used in the body's own "buffering system"..The body has stores of a chemical called bi-carbonate that helps to reduce the acidity of various occurrng chemicals, enzymes, and hormones etc...This is a very very basic explanation..Anway..

The point..when you take TUMS the calcium (calcium carbonate) is not absorbed by the body in biochemical pathways that allow the calcium to be used my the boney matrix of the body!!! The calcium carbonate is used in the buffering pathways!! These doctors should know this! It infuriates me when I hear and read about them telling people to take TUMS! It seems if they paid any attention in their biochemistry or physiology classes they would realize that calcium carbonate cannot be used effectively to build, strengthen, or prevent bone loss!!!!

There are several types of calcium available to take:
Gluconate
Citrate
Picolonate
Any calcium of this variety is absorbed much better than the calcium in TUMS!!! There are many different theories and views as to which one is best. To determine this one should consult an MD that practices or believes in natural/nutritional approaches to treating disease, a naturopath, a chiropractor that specializes in internal disorders or nutrition, or a nutrionist that is a master's level or above. These practioners may use different testing methods to determine which type of calcium is best for you. For example, naturopaths may base the type of calcium you need upon your serum (blood) pH..

I hope this information is helpful!

USAFMOM · 09-17-2003, 03:23 PM

If this is true, then the makers of Os-Cal, Caltrate, and numerous other companies are getting rich off of us!!! I've read different articles on the different calciums available, and this info is new to me!