January 26, 2005--

Ben Swann-KFOX Morning News Anchor/Reporter

New research makes calcium sound like a wonder drug. Along with strengthening your bones, it may also lower the risk of colon cancer, reduce blood pressure, improve cholesterol, and help you lose weight. But most of us get too little calcium in our diet. In our Consumer Watch Report we test supplements, to find which can help.

You see all kinds of calcium supplements in stores. There's calcium citrate, calcium carbonate. Some are made from oyster shells. Still others are made from coral. Consumer Reports recently tested thirty different kinds of calcium supplements. Dr. Marvin Lipman, Consumer Reports' Medical Advisor, reviewed the results.

Dr. Marvin M. Lipman-Consumer Reports: "All of the brands that we tested contained the amounts of calcium promised on the label. But some also contained lead at levels that we think make them a poor choice."

Another problem turned up in a second test. This device simulates how calcium dissolves in your stomach. Some of the calcium supplements didn't dissolve properly, which means they might not be absorbed adequately into your body. Based on its testing, Consumer Reports says these four calcium supplements are poor choices: Two from Rite Aid, 600 milligram, with and without vitamin D, and one called Coral Calcium Daily, and Barefoot Coral Calcium Plus. It turns out the two coral supplements were also the most expensive.

Dr. Marvin M. Lipman-Consumer Reports: "In order to get a daily dose of 1000 milligrams of calcium, you have to take six to eight tablets and that can cost well over a dollar."

In contrast, you need only two of these pills at a cost of just four cents a day. They're Kirkland Signature Calcium 500 milligrams from Costco. They were top-rated in Consumer Reports' tests.

How much calcium you need depends on your age and how often you eat calcium-rich foods such as milk, yogurt and tofu. One other note, our testers found that Walgreens also carries a good supplement. It's the Walgreens Finest Natural Calcium 500 plus D. A one thousand milligram dose will cost you eight cents.

For more helpful consumer information, visit *Consumer Reports on the web.

http://www.consumerreports.org/

*Consumer Reports is a fee based website. Many of the articles require a subscription.