Citracal is a U.S.-based OTC calcium formulation brand, and its parent company, Bayer Therapeutics, is one of the world's leading innovators in the healthcare industry, with the world's second largest over-the-counter business. As a brand of Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Citracal has maintained its consistent professionalism and specificity. Most of the calcium tablets produced by the brand use calcium citrate as the calcium source, which has been cited in clinical studies because of its better solubility. Citracal is highly recognized in the medical community, and in the 2018 Pharmacy Times survey, Citracal was the calcium supplement recommended by doctors and pharmacists the most.
 
There are three types of calcium tablets with high Citracal approval: Citracal petites, which are smaller, Citracal maximum with high calcium content, and Citracal slow release 1200, all of which use calcium citrate as a calcium source. Due to the high cost, there are not many calcium brands that use calcium citrate as a calcium source. The advantage of this calcium salt is that it is mild and easy to digest and absorb, because it is soluble in water and does not need to rely on stomach acid for digestion and absorption, so it is more suitable for people with indigestion and gastrointestinal diseases.
 
Citracal petites is undoubtedly the most well-known calcium supplement in the brand, and has been praised by ConsumerLab, a third-party evaluation in the United States. The product adopts the classic formula of calcium and vitamin D, and the specification of 200 tablets is about 140 yuan. The recommended dosage is more reasonable and more in line with the recommended intake in China, because each tablet contains only 200mg of calcium, which is also convenient for people who need low-calcium supplements to adjust their daily dosage. It should be noted that although the name of the product is "mini", the size of calcium tablets is much larger than that of regular mini tablets, which is still not suitable for people with difficulty swallowing, which is also a point that Citracal petites is often criticized.
 
Citracal maximum is a high calcium version of the regular calcium tablets, taking 1260 mg of calcium per day as recommended. According to Chinese standards, this intake is on the high side, and if you are obviously deficient in calcium, it is recommended to take half of the recommended dosage and eat a balanced diet. At present, this calcium supplement can only be purchased through purchasing agents, and 280 tablets are about 170 yuan, which is much cheaper than Citracal petites.
 
Compared to the above two calcium tablets, Citracal slow release 1200 is particularly special. In general, due to the limitation of absorption by the body, it is best to take more than 500mg of calcium in divided doses. The patented sustained-release technology of Citracal slow release 1200 improves the absorption rate of high-dose calcium, allowing business travelers to take calcium tablets once a day to meet their daily needs. In addition to the standard vitamin D, Citracal slow release 1200 also contains a small amount of magnesium, which is better for maintaining bone density.
 
However, the recommended dosage of this product is higher, and it is more suitable for people with severe calcium deficiency and high demand, about 140 yuan per 80 tablets. If the average calcium-deficient person needs this slow-release calcium, it is recommended to halve the recommended dosage and take one tablet per day instead. Since the calcium source is a mixture of calcium carbonate and calcium citrate, this calcium tablet needs to be taken with a meal.
 
In general, Citracal has a higher calcium dose and vitamin D dosage, which is suitable for people with severe calcium deficiency and older people with high vitamin D needs. Despite its slightly higher price, Citracal's professionalism and ease of digestion make it popular with people with calcium deficiency, especially those with poor digestion.