When & How To Take Calcium Hydroxyapatite?

The University of Arkansas Medical Sciences states that the calcium in bones and teeth is most often found as a combination of calcium and phosphorus, called calcium hydroxyapatite. Because calcium hydroxyapatite is found naturally in the body, the University at Buffalo states that people who suffer from osteoporosis may experience slower bone loss if they take a calcium hydroxyapatite supplement instead of other forms of calcium. The effectiveness of calcium hydroxyapatite depends on when and how you take it.

Step 1

Take calcium hydroxyapatite two hours before or after taking iron, zinc or magnesium supplements. According to the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences, calcium hinders the body's absorption of these nutrients, decreasing their efficiency. A two-hour time frame allows the body to digest and absorb each supplement separately.

Step 2

Eat a meal before you take the calcium hydroxyapatite. Although you can take calcium supplements such as calcium malate and calcium citrate on an empty stomach, the body absorbs calcium hydroxyapatite best with food, says Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Step 3

Read the instructions on the product label to determine the correct dosage. Most calcium supplements contain 500 mg of calcium per dose and require that you take two doses each day. Take the first dose in the morning and the second dose in the evening to get the total recommended intake of 1,000 mg for adults up to age 65. Elderly men and women require 1,200 mg of calcium each day.

Step 4

Swallow the calcium hydroxyapatite pill with at least 8 ounces of water to help the pill dissolve and disperse through your digestive system.

Tips and Warnings

Because the body requires vitamin D to absorb calcium, you must have adequate intake of vitamin D from exposure to sunlight or foods such as fish, liver and vitamin D-fortified dairy products. Many calcium supplements also contain vitamin D.