Research
Calcium for Menopause: Evidence, Interactions and Cautions
Calcium is an ingredient used in menopause supplements marketed to women. Below is what it has actually been studied for, how strong that evidence is, the drug interactions and cautions on record, and the primary source our grade rests on — all drawn from the HerWellReport ingredient dataset.
Also sold as: Calcium carbonate; calcium citrate
What the evidence says about Calcium
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements says fracture findings are mixed: one meta-analysis of 500-1,200 mg calcium with 400-800 IU vitamin D found 15% fewer fractures overall and 30% fewer hip fractures, while other systematic reviews found no benefit. The recommended intake rises to 1,200 mg a day for women over 50 specifically to lessen bone loss after menopause, and food counts towards that total. Calcium is absent from the Menopause Society's 2023 nonhormone therapy position statement, which deals with vasomotor symptoms only.
The grade "moderate for bone health with vitamin D; none for hot flushes" means: moderate — Randomised trials exist for this use but they are few, small, short or mixed. none — No human trial evidence we could find for this use. Grades are explained in full on our methodology page.
Read the primary source this grade rests on (opens in a new tab).
Calcium drug interactions
- Levothyroxine (separate doses by at least 4 hours)
- quinolone antibiotics (separate by 2 hours)
- bisphosphonates
- dolutegravir
- lithium
Who should be careful with Calcium
- Do not exceed 2,000 mg/day in total from food plus supplements if you are over 50
- supplemental calcium at about 1,000 mg/day was linked to more kidney stones in the Women's Health Initiative
- calcium carbonate causes more constipation and bloating than calcium citrate in older adults
Read more on HerWellReport
- Best Menopause Supplements: What Is Actually In Them
- One A Day Women’s Menopause Formula: An Honest Ingredient Review
- 65 Ingredients, None Proven: What Is Actually Inside the Supplements Sold to Women (2026)
- Cystex Review (2026): The Cranberry Dose It Won’t Disclose
- Bladder Supplement Side Effects and Drug Interactions: The Full List
This entry is generated from row "Calcium" of the HerWellReport ingredient dataset (v2.1, updated 2026-09-23). The dataset is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 — how to cite it. Ingredient evidence is not evidence for any finished product, and nothing here is medical advice.