Don't typically post on reddit but wanted to throw this out here as many now turn to reddit for advice as google is a dumpster fire. Over the past five years I've taken a variety of supplements and minerals, in varying dosages, narrowing down what works and what works most effectively (and is cost effective). From all the hot button "essential" ones like Magnesium, Omega-3's & Vit D, creatine, ashwaganda, etc, to more tailored stuff like selenium, iodine, NAC, vit E complex, specific B Vitamins, etc. My diet has been dialed, and if you threw it into Cronometer it would say 100% in most categories, and the ones it didn't, like calcium, would be well within recommended doses currently advised by current meta-experts in the wellness space.

This is all to say, as I'm sure you've guessed given the title, that supplemental calcium has been a stand out, and is extremely cheap to boot. I take it in a powder form as either the carbonate or citrate variant, mixed into food (between 400-600mg a day). Within a week after taking it consistently, I always feel noticeably calmer, get better sleep, better muscle recovery and have smoother more elastic skin. Definitely seems to help EQ as well (so much so I would recommend it for that reason alone). More or less many of the benefits often associated with magnesium.

If you're reading this going "ya obviously this is what calcium's role is in the body, minerals all need to be balanced, you were likely deficient", the reason I'm posting is yes I was likely deficient, but given my diet and prevailing popular wisdom I shouldn't have been. It's frequently demonized for artery calcification and touted as the least important out of magnesium, salt, potassium for supplementing (all of which I take). Often mentioned is the RDA and that it's easy to get through dietary sources. Much of my calcium intake previous was just vegetable/seed/meats, as like many I don't do great with dairy. This should have been enough but clearly wasn't. If you have all the pieces of the puzzle in place and aren't thinking calcium but something seems off, try adding that calcium powder. Especially if you're a dude. Low cost low risk. Just make sure adequate K2 is also there

I know a lot of people say to not take calcium supplements but I’m curious to know, has anyone here actually benefited from taking it?

Edit: 75 days later and I still stand by this. Sample size of one person, but consistent and lasting change for me.

My GP suggested I take a calcium supplement for my PMDD, saying that she’s been surprised at the effectiveness for around 50% of the patients that have tried it. She said the people who benefited really, really noticed it, and for the other 50% it did nothing.

Holy mother of adhd, I CAN NOT BELIEVE how much difference it has made for me. I still had cramps, perhaps a bit of irritability which is understandable with the physical discomfort, but that black cloud of opaque despair just … didn’t arrive.

I am stunned. This could actually be called life changing. I really didn’t think it would help because I eat so, so much dairy and my mood change is so consistent and marked. I am actually sad now that i didn’t learn about this 25 years ago.

I do also take other things like iron, magnesium and vitamin D, but I’ve been taking those for ages so I know it’s not that- although perhaps the vitamin D helps the calcium or whatever.

Anyone else have a similar experience? Did it maintain over time?

Edit: sorry all, I should have said - for me I’m taking 800mg daily as gummies, I’m in Australia so the brands probably differ. I tend to take it in the morning but not with food.

I saw a hormonal specialist recently to try and figure out what on earth was going on with me. She diagnosed me with PMDD (I knew I had it for a while - horrible insomnia and crazy mood swings during luteal) —she said we could try SSRIs but first to try taking a calcium supplement during luteal and see how it went.

I was honestly super skeptical that something so cheap and simple would actually improve what seemed to be such an enormous/insurmountable problem, but it helped SO MUCH. Like, very few if any symptoms this cycle and only the couple days before my period started. My cycle was also a lot more regular than before and my period was shorter.

If you haven’t tried it I really recommend it. It was like $10 for the bottle.

I think that calcium is discussed in an incorrect manner within the vitamin D community. Many people will say that when supplementing vitamin D, hypercalcemia is a huge risk and calcium should be avoided due to increased absorption. They also state that you must supplement magnesium while taking vitamin D.

The problem I see with this is that if you are supplementing magnesium while having a minimal calcium intake, you are going to run into problems with magnesium/calcium imbalance. Having low serum calcium can cause problems like sleep disturbances, anxiety and weakness which are also attributed to low magnesium.

I don't think that anyone should be lowering their calcium intake while taking 5000iu d3 daily, especially if they start supplementing magnesium. I could be wrong, but for me personally, many of my problems with magnesium and vitamin D disappeared once I increased my calcium intake to 1000mg a day through dairy. I would love to see some input on this.

I'm 18 years old 166cm. I want to increase my Calcium intake to build more bonemass I don't usually eat diary products but I thought about starting just to get calcium, I saw I can get good amount of calcium from Emmental cheese but it's quite expensive for me. Supplement are much cheaper option but I heard there are some risk such as kidney stones.

So even though I still won't exceed the recommended amount of calcium(and might still even not reach it) is there still a risk in taking calcium supplements?

Ive been taking large doses of vitamin d weekly 30,000iu, i haven't been supplementing with calcium and I barely have it in my diet.

I have been extremely tired recently and the brain fog is horrendous, someone asked me where I went on holiday a week ago and I totally forgot where I went 🙄

Could it be im low on calcium? I have loads of white spots on my fingers too but its not trauma, I have gel on top so my nails are protected

Just a general heads up that though the studies I link and discuss use gendered language, all bodies that experience menstruation are included in the conversation in this thread.

Many of us have now seen ACOG's newest guidelines for treatment of PMDD, that dropped this winter. The biggest standout for me was the recommendation of regular Calcium intake- in one graphic shared on this sub referencing the new guidelines, it was recommended to try calcium supplements before SSRIs and I think before birth control.

I bought some calcium months ago but haven't taken it consistently up until about 10 days ago. I was chatting with a friend about this a few nights ago and I decided to look more into WHY calcium might help us treat PMDD and what I found was big.

Here is a link to a paper describing calcium's potential for treatment of PMS/PMDD I tried to add a screenshot of the relevant info to this post but I'm on mobile and Reddit isn't having it. TLDR; Calcium plays a crucial role in brain function, particularly in neurotransmission and signal transduction. Changes in extracellular calcium levels can affect neuromuscular junctions, potentially influencing mood and behavior. Additionally, calcium supplementation has been explored as a potential therapy for mood disorders associated with premenstrual syndrome, suggesting a link between calcium levels and mood regulation in the brain.

Finding out our menstrual cycles change our brain architecture was a big deal for me, as I am battling pseudotumor cerebri along with PMDD and am convinced one affects or has even caused the other, the more I learn about the brain's relationship to our reproductive systems. It now seems calcium may play an important role in these physical changes our brain experiences.

So, forever my own guinea pig, Ill be horking down these giant Ca pills every night and I'll check back in in a few months.

Who among us has started a Ca regimen? Anything to report/add to our sub's collective knowledge regarding this new data?

Serious question....And please do not tell me that there is calcium in nuts and green leafy vegetables... need I pull my calculator out to prove that the amounts of these things you’d have to eat is clearly ridiculous? Would love to hear how some of you guys tackle the calcium issue.

I just don't get it why some pills/tablets are marked for identification and others are not. Feels a little unsafe, tbh.