★ (1-Star): Inorganic Molecular Calcium
★★ (2-Stars): Organic Molecular Calcium
★★★ (3-Stars): Ionized Calcium
★★★★ (4-Stars): Amino Acid Chelated Calcium
★★★★★ (5-Stars): Peptide Chelated Calcium
★ (1-Star): Inorganic Molecular Calcium
- Source: Chemically synthesized from inorganic materials (e.g., chemical calcium, most pharmaceutical calcium).
- Pros/Cons: Likely to cause kidney stones.
- Physical Property: Insoluble in water.
★★ (2-Stars): Organic Molecular Calcium
- Source: Ground or refined from biological sources (e.g., pearls, coral, animal bone products) without advanced molecular breakdown technology.
- Pros/Cons: Difficult to absorb as it is not ionized.
- Physical Property: Insoluble in water.
★★★ (3-Stars): Ionized Calcium
- Source: Nano-sized or ionized calcium encapsulated in liposomes.
- Pros/Cons: Liposomes must be dissolved before the calcium can be absorbed.
- Physical Property: Insoluble in water.
★★★★ (4-Stars): Amino Acid Chelated Calcium
- Source: Ionized calcium chelated with amino acids.
- Pros/Cons: Good absorption. However, amino acids are “restricted foods” for the elderly (limit: 0.2g per day); excess intake can strain the kidneys.
- Physical Property: Soluble in water.
★★★★★ (5-Stars): Peptide Chelated Calcium
- Source: Ionized calcium chelated with peptides.
- Pros/Cons: Excellent absorption. Once absorbed, the peptides help “bond” the calcium, preventing it from being easily lost.
- Physical Property: Soluble in water.