Like many herbs and dietary supplements, coral calcium has received much attention from the media about its possible benefits to health. Before determining whether this supplement will be of value to you, it's important to be able to separate facts from fiction.
What It Is
Coral calcium is derived from coral. As the coral naturally erodes and flakes off, the flakes settle on tropical oceans' bottoms, where the flakes are harvested.
Benefits
Documented benefits, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, are that the coral calcium seems to be absorbed better in the intestines than other forms of calcium.
Understanding the Mechanism
Coral is 20 percent calcium and 10 percent magnesium. Scientists believe the ratio of these two minerals is at least in part responsible for the superior body absorption of coral calcium.
Precautions
The Mayo Clinic advises that people with shellfish allergies should avoid taking coral calcium as it can trigger allergic reactions in those sensitive to shellfish.
Considerations
The Food and Drug Administration of the United States has filed lawsuits against two individuals and their companies for false claims in their advertising, including claims that coral calcium can cure cancer, as reported by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
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