Benefits
Bioavailability- The Mineral Chelate Difference
The importance of bioavailability is obvious. If consuming a calcium supplement has little effect on improving the body’s calcium balance, there is no reason to ingest it. Signs of inferior mineral supplements include the use of cheap, poorly absorbed, rock-salt minerals, like calcium carbonate and magnesium oxide. These mineral forms slow and limit absorption, relying on adequate stomach acid to release calcium ions which then enter the body via passive diffusion. And, because they tend to remain in the intestines longer, these forms of mineral supplements can cause intestinal distress such as constipation (calcium carbonate) or diarrhea (magnesium oxide).
Vita Calcium provides the benefit of highly-absorbed, Albion® mineral chelates. Albion® is the world leader in manufacturing highly bioavailable mineral chelates, a specialized form of minerals bound to amino acids. This patented process creates organic mineral compounds which use active absorption mechanisms in the gastrointestinal tract to greatly enhance mineral absorption. Comparison studies have shown significantly superior absorption of mineral chelates compared to other mineral forms. In a clinical study comparing calcium absorption in humans, Albion®’s patented calcium chelate delivered the greatest absorption of all calcium sources tested.
- Calcium from calcium carbonate is often absorbed at very low levels (less than 10 %).
- In a human clinical study, Albion®’s patented calcium chelate formulation averaged 44 % absorption of the dose without the benefit of meal enhancement. No other calcium form has an equivalent or higher rate of absorption.
In addition, mineral chelates are gentle, gut “friendly” minerals that do not cause constipation that often accompanies calcium carbonate and other rock-salt forms. Albion®’s mineral chelates have extensive clinical research proving their superior bioavailability, biologic activity, stability and improved tolerance.
