Why Isn’t Calcium Alone Enough for Strong Bones?
Summary
Calcium supplies bone’s raw material, but bone is a protein scaffold hardened with minerals. Eggshell calcium arrives with a natural protein matrix and trace minerals. In year-long studies of postmenopausal women, it improved bone measures more than placebo, and in one study more than calcium carbonate.
Key Takeaways
- Bone is a collagen scaffold hardened with minerals.
- Eggshell calcium keeps part of the shell’s natural matrix.
- Two year-long studies tested it in postmenopausal women.
- Vitamins D and K2 support how calcium gets used.
- Choose a formula that fits your age and medications.
You take your calcium every day, the way you were told to. You still wonder whether it’s reaching your bones. You’re not imagining the gap: calcium is only half of what bone is made of.
Most calcium advice stops at the mineral and the milligrams. This post covers the other half, what the research on eggshell calcium shows, and how to choose between our two bone formulas.
What are bones made of besides calcium?
Bone is built from collagen and other proteins, which are then hardened with mineral crystals.[1] Think of rebar and concrete. The minerals supply hardness, and the protein framework keeps the structure from turning brittle.
That’s why a supplement that delivers only the mineral leaves half the picture out. Your body has to supply the scaffold on its own.
How is eggshell calcium different from mined calcium?
Eggshell calcium comes from a living structure, not a rock deposit. About 95% of a chicken eggshell is calcite crystals. The hen’s body grows those crystals on a natural framework called the organic matrix, made of proteins, glycoproteins and proteoglycans such as hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate. That matrix is what guides how the shell’s crystals form, and part of it stays with the calcium. So do trace minerals found naturally in the shell, including boron, strontium, magnesium and phosphorus.
Mined calcium is ground from earth deposits. It is the mineral alone, with no organic matrix, no shell proteins and no added trace minerals. The difference isn’t the calcium itself. It’s what comes with it.
In pre-clinical studies, eggshell matrix proteins increased calcium transport in intestinal cells.
The eggshell calcium in Redd Remedies formulas is also tested for heavy metals and other contaminants before it’s used.
| Eggshell calcium | Mined calcium carbonate | Calcium citrate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where it comes from | Eggshells | Ground deposits | Mineral salt made from mined sources |
| What arrives with the calcium | Natural eggshell proteins (organic matrix) and trace minerals | The mineral alone | The mineral alone |
What do studies show about eggshell calcium and bone density?
Two year-long trials in postmenopausal women found improvements with eggshell calcium.
In a Dutch trial of 85 healthy women at least five years past menopause, hip bone density rose 1.75% in the eggshell group.[3] The placebo group lost 0.60%, and the calcium carbonate group showed no significant change.[3]
A Vietnamese trial of 54 women measured bone mass by ultrasound. After 12 months, the eggshell calcium group scored higher than both the placebo and calcium carbonate groups.[4]
That group took only 300 mg of calcium a day from eggshell.[4]
Why do vitamin D, K2, magnesium, and boron sit alongside the calcium?
Calcium needs partners to be used well. Vitamin D supports calcium absorption. Vitamin K2 (as MenaQ7), magnesium, and boron support how the body uses calcium once it’s absorbed.
As we age, it can become harder for the body to put calcium where it belongs. That’s the reason our formula for women 40 and older includes these partners.
The magnesium in Bone Health Advanced is a rice-protein chelate, a form that’s gentle on the stomach. Magnesium oxide, a common alternative, is known for its laxative effect.
Which formula fits: Bone Health Advanced or Calcium Mag + D?
Both formulas start with 1,000 mg of calcium from eggshell calcium. The difference is the supporting cast.
| Bone Health Advanced™ | Calcium Mag + D™ | |
|---|---|---|
| Key ingredients | Eggshell calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K2 (MenaQ7), magnesium, boron | Eggshell calcium, vitamin D3, magnesium |
| Best fit | Women in their 40s and postmenopausal women | Teen girls and women through their 30s; anyone who needs to avoid K2 |
| Dosing | 2 capsules twice daily with meals | 2 capsules twice daily with meals |
Taking all four capsules at once isn’t recommended, because the body can’t absorb that much calcium in one dose.
What should you check before starting?
- Blood thinners: Bone Health Advanced isn’t recommended because of its vitamin K2 content. Calcium Mag + D is the better fit. Confirm with your doctor.
- Food counts too: Your diet also supplies calcium, so more supplement doesn’t mean more benefit.
- Movement: Weight-bearing exercise is part of the picture.
If you’re weighing the two formulas, explore Bone Health Advanced or Calcium Mag + D. Both were formulated by Stacey Littlefield, MS, one of the few Master Herbalists on staff at a supplement company. Learn more about her background.
Supplements are one piece of bone care. Your doctor can tell you whether a bone density scan makes sense for you, and what your food, activity, and medications mean for the plan.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bone Health and Calcium
Is eggshell calcium the same as grinding my own eggshells?
No. Homemade powder is gritty and isn’t tested for contaminants or standardized for dose.
Why take it with meals and split the dose?
The body can’t absorb 1,000 mg of calcium at once. Two capsules twice daily, with food, works better.
Can I take it alongside my doctor’s calcium advice?
Each formula provides 1,000 mg of calcium, and food supplies the rest. Ask your doctor about your total.
When should a younger woman start?
Calcium Mag + D suits teen girls and women through their 30s. Bone is built early, and the habit matters.
Is eggshell calcium vegan?
No. It comes from eggs, so plant-based eaters would need a different calcium source.
Sources
- Clarke B. Normal bone anatomy and physiology. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2008;3(Suppl 3):S131-S139. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18988698/
- Daengprok W, Garnjanagoonchorn W, Naivikul O, Pornsinlpatip P, Issigonis K, Mine Y. Chicken eggshell matrix proteins enhance calcium transport in the human intestinal epithelial cells, Caco-2. J Agric Food Chem. 2003;51(20):6056-6061. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf034261e
- Schaafsma A, van Doormaal JJ, Muskiet FAJ, Hofstede GJH, Pakan I, van der Veer E. Positive effects of a chicken eggshell powder-enriched vitamin-mineral supplement on femoral neck bone mineral density in healthy late post-menopausal Dutch women. Br J Nutr. 2002;87(3):267-275. https://doi.org/10.1079/BJNBJN2001515
- Sakai S, Hien VTT, Tuyen LD, Duc HA, Masuda Y, Yamamoto S. Effects of eggshell calcium supplementation on bone mass in postmenopausal Vietnamese women. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol. 2017;63(2):120-124. https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.63.120
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