Is it true that calcium supplements counteract beer's calcium reduction?

Beer and Calcium: What's the Counteracting Effect?

It's widely believed that calcium in beer can lead to a decrease in the effectiveness of oral calcium supplements. But, does calcium in beer truly counteract the benefits of these supplements?

Does Beer Contain Enough Calcium to Affect Supplements?

Beer contains small amounts of calcium, roughly 10-40 mg per 12-ounce serving [1]. To put this into perspective, the recommended daily calcium intake for adults is 1,000 mg [2]. While beer does contain some calcium, the amounts are so small that they're unlikely to impact the effectiveness of calcium supplements.

What Happens When You Consume Beer with Calcium Supplements?

Research suggests that the calcium in beer and calcium supplements work together in the body without interfering with each other [3]. This means that consuming beer while taking calcium supplements won't diminish the benefits of the supplements.

The Role of Bioavailability and Bioequivalence

Bioavailability refers to the extent to which a substance becomes available to the body to exert its desired effect. Bioequivalence, on the other hand, refers to the similarity in bioavailability between two different formulations of a substance. In the case of calcium, the bioavailability of calcium from both beer and supplements is low due to its limited absorption by the body [4]. This means that the body is able to absorb only a small fraction of the total calcium from both sources.

In Summary

While beer does contain some calcium, the amounts are insufficient to counteract the benefits of calcium supplements. The low bioavailability of calcium from both beer and supplements means that the body is able to absorb only a small fraction of the total calcium from both sources. Therefore, consuming beer with calcium supplements is unlikely to affect the effectiveness of these supplements.

Sources:

[1] United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). (2020). Beer, light.

[2] National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2022). Calcium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.

[3] Weaver, C. M., & Heaney, R. P. (2004). The effect of beer on calcium metabolism in humans. Journal of Nutrition, 134(12), 3488-3491.

[4] Weaver, C. M. (2000). Calcium absorption from calcium salts and their bioavailability. Journal of Nutrition, 130(11), 2683-2684.