First of all, I think we all agree that food sources of calcium are
better absorbed than any supplements, and have the additional benefit of
providing other trace elements along with basic nutrition. A check of my
nutrition text found that calcium carbonate is a purified calcium
compound commonly used as a dietary supplement. Calcium in this form is
equally well absorbed as other simple calcium compounds (Ca acetate, Ca
gluconate, Ca lactate, Ca citrate, to name a few.) Calcium content
varies. Calcium carbonate contains 40% calcium, while calcium gluconate
has only 9% calcium. Read labels.

Tums contain only calcium carbonate. You can find calcium carbonate
bottled as a calcium supplement rather than as an antacid, sometimes at
a much higher cost. This brings me to the subject of suspicion. While an
earlier post suggested women may have been sold a bill of goods on Tums
as an antacid, I think it is equally plausible that there is profit in
making women choose to buy the same product in a different package at a
higher price because they have been convinced that there *must* be a
difference.

I do not work for Tums, sell Tums, or even take Tums. I just think this
is an interesting thread.

Catherine Mallon
Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada.