If you have lactose intolerance or are following a vegan diet, you will be concerned with calcium in your food. There are several different types found naturally in foods and beverages. All types of calcium are minerals; according to The Vegetarian Resource Group, calcium lactate is a calcium salt of lactic acid.
Considerations
According to the experts at MayoClinic.com, calcium is available in different types including carbonate, citrate, lactate or gluconate. If you are in the market for calcium supplements, the most important factor to consider is the amount of elemental calcium available per tablet. Another consideration is the amount of elemental calcium available per serving. This will determine if you need to swallow more than one tablet to reach your intake goal.
Significance
Sometimes, supplement manufacturers will list the weight of the tablet, which translates to the weight of the mineral plus whatever other ingredients it is bound too. This does not represent the amount of dietary calcium available per tablet. Calcium lactate supplements, like other forms of calcium tablets, should clearly state the amount of elemental calcium per serving on the Nutrition Facts label.
The United States Pharmacopia and the Consumer Labs are regulatory bodies that test the purity of your supplement. Search for the stamp "USP" or "CL." These stamps indicate the product passed voluntarily testing for purity and tablet dissolution. This is important because some calcium tablets do not dissolve and are not digestible.
Lactic Acid
According to the experts at the Vegetarian Resource Group, the lactic acid used in the production of calcium lactate is produced without whey, a milk byproduct. Instead, hydrolyzed cornstarch is used in the fermentation process by Archer Daniels Midland Company, a food and agricultural company. Purac of America, Inc., another food company, uses beet sugar in its fermentation process. If no dairy products were used in the production of the lactic acid found in a calcium lactate supplement, then it is not considered to be dairy-based. However, it is not possible to gauge the ingredient for fermentation of imported products.
Misconceptions
You may be familiar with the term "lactose," which refers to a dairy-based product. It is common to confuse lactate and lactic acid with lactose, one of the milk sugars. Products with ingredients that begin with "lac" are usually the result of the fermentation process using vegetables or grain sugars. Therefore, calcium carbonate, phosphate, lactate and sulfate do not contain dairy products. The exception is sterol lactate, which is made with steric acid. This ingredient is the byproduct of animal fat and would make it inappropriate for vegan diets. If you are concerned, read product labels carefully to determine the contents.
Tip
If you are concerned with calcium---whether for medical, dietary or cultural reasons---talk with your health care provider. Bring in the container with your supplements and allow your doctor to review the ingredients label with you. If you have health care insurance, check with member services to determine if you have coverage available for a consultation with a dietitian or nutritionist. This is an opportunity to learn more about your nutritional needs and the best way to meet them.
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