DiCalcium Malate, by Thorne Research, consists of one molecule of malic acid bound to two molecules of calcium, resulting in a compound that is 29-percent calcium, compared to calcium citrate, which is 19-percent calcium – allowing for more elemental calcium per capsule.

Research suggests that diet, by itself, for a large proportion of the adult population, does not supply adequate amounts of calcium. One measure of an adequate supply of calcium is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recommended daily intake of 1,300 mg. Individuals who may be at the most risk for calcium inadequacy – because of decreased intake, disordered metabolism, decreased absorption, increased loss, or increased need – include:

• Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women
• Women with amenorrhea, particularly those in which this condition is brought on by prolonged strenuous athletic activity or active military service
• Individuals on a dairy-free diet
• Vegetarians, because their diets tend to be higher in plant-derived phytates and oxalates that can inhibit calcium absorption
• Pregnant women, particularly those with a history of gestational hypertension
• Individuals on prescription and OTC medications, such as antacids (H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors) that can inhibit absorption, or glucocorticoids, such as prednisone, that can increase calcium loss
• Individuals with a vitamin D deficiency – because vitamin D is necessary for calcium absorption