Do calcium tablets cause constipation?

Nowadays, people know that if they want to supplement calcium, they know to buy some calcium tablets and take them. No matter what brand of calcium tablets they are, as long as they are taken according to the instructions, there will be some effect. However, you should not take too many calcium tablets at one time, otherwise it will have the opposite effect. Sometimes it may be due to physical reasons, so the patient's body will show some abnormalities after taking calcium tablets. So, can calcium tablets cause constipation?

Among calcium supplements, calcium carbonate has the highest absorption rate and is more commonly used by adults. However, the absorption of calcium by the human body is a process. Under the action of gastric acid, part of the calcium carbonate will turn into calcium chloride, and after entering the intestine, it will form calcium phosphate. These calcium salts are difficult to absorb and inhibit intestinal peristalsis, which may cause constipation. This is especially common among the elderly or those whose diets lack dietary fiber. Therefore, be careful not to cause constipation when taking calcium tablets.

Calcium tablets are taken orally and enter the gastrointestinal tract. The absorption rate is mostly around 30~40%, and most of the calcium is excreted from the body through feces. Calcium supplements easily combine with food residues in the intestines such as oxalic acid, phytic acid, phosphoric acid, and fat to form insoluble, hard substances, making the stool dry and hard. The more calcium you eat at one time, the lower the absorption rate, the more calcium is excreted through the feces, and the drier and harder the stool becomes. Therefore, calcium supplementation usually causes varying degrees of constipation.

We should also pay attention to the fact that high-cholesterol foods or fried foods can cause constipation. Patients often suffer from constipation because of the lack of fruits and vegetables in their diet and too little water. We should eat more fiber foods in our diet.

The above is the introduction to whether calcium tablets can cause constipation. Generally, calcium tablets can also cause constipation. It is recommended that everyone pay more attention to this issue in life.