[judymoody]

Okay, a question for you ladies. According to the label, my calcium supplement is supposed to be taken with food, three times a day. (Jarrow-Bone UP) I have been doing that, for about six months, and am beginning to wonder if my body is getting the iron it needs. I was anemic in my 40's, (peri- heavy monthly periods) and feel like I could be going down that road again. I am post-menopausal, and also over 50, so I'm wondering about vitamin/nutrient absorption anyway. I eat beef a couple of times a week, and oatmeal w/milk every morning? Do I need to change my supplementation habits? Any input would be welcomed, thanks so much. Julie

[mrsD]

Julie,

Post menopausal women should not take Iron supplements, unless they have a blood test, to suggest that need. Iron overload or excess iron is implicated in heart disease in both men and women. Women's vits labeled for over 50 typically do not have iron in them, or if so a very low amount.

You want to make sure you have adequate Vit D, since this is responsible for calcium absorption.

Both calcium and iron require an acidic stomach for absorption.
If you use acid lowering drugs, and change that environment, both will have reduced absorption.

[Kitt]

mrsD is right that post menopausal women do not need Iron supplements and should not take them unless they are deficient. The same goes for men.

It is important to be certain that a multi vitamin, for example, does not contain any Iron.

[judymoody]

For clarification purposes, I don't take an iron supplement-multi-vit. or acid reducing drugs. I do take Vitamin D, thanks to you, Mrs. D. and this website. Would calcium interfere with B-12 absorption first thing in the morning? Then at night before bed?? Just trying to sort it all out . . . . thanks. Also, I want to let you know that I appreciate you all- I am still looking for a physician that I trust since our move, and I believe you guys know more than most docs, so thank you for your patience with my questions-and ignorance. Julie

[glenntaj]

--can interfere with B12 absorption, primarily due to its status as the largest molecule the body regularly uses, so it is easily "out-competed" at absoprtion sites.

Most will adivse if you are taking B12 supplements, take them alone, at least 2 hours after consuming/supplementing with anything else (and at least one hour before consuming/supplementing with anything else).

[mrsD]

This quote from the Linus Pauling Institute suggests calcium is needed for B12 absorption:

Metformin, a medication for individuals with type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes, decreases vitamin B12 absorption by tying up free calcium required for absorption of the IF-B12 complex. This effect is correctable by drinking milk or taking calcium carbonate tablets along with food or supplements (5). Previous reports that megadoses of vitamin C destroy vitamin B12 have not been supported (46) and may have been an artifact of the assay used to measure vitamin B12 levels (6).

from http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocente...ns/vitaminB12/
How UNBOUND B12 would be affected is not clear to me.
Since we don't see the recommendation that I use to only take on an empty stomach being applied even though that rule is applied to DRUGS in microgram amounts, I don't think this question has been addressed clearly in studies yet.

When the new form of B12 hits the shelves soon, there may be more absorption data released.
http://www.emisphere.com/oral_vitamin_b12.html