Lead is a naturally occurring element present in the earth’s soil, water and atmosphere. We ingest, or take in, lead on a daily basis from our water, air, dust and foods. Lead can be found, in very small amounts in all foods, including milk, fruits and vegetables. When you look at all the sources of lead exposure and lead toxicity, calcium sources, either from food or supplements, pose little danger.

The FDA (Federal Drug Administration) has estimated that the tolerable daily intake level of lead from all sources is 750 micrograms (mcg) per day for most adults, and 250 mcg per day for pregnant women. The FDA and the USP (United States Pharmacopoeia) has set a strict standard for calcium supplements. Calcium supplements that contain less than 3 parts per million (ppm) or 7.5 mcg of lead per 1000 mg of calcium are safe. The USP and the National Academy of Sciences Food Chemicals Codex have also established standards for the purity of ingredients used in foods and supplements.

Nutritional supplements are not regulated by the FDA and do not have to be tested for safety. You should avoid supplements made from unrefined ground oyster shells, bonemeal or dolomite which may contain higher levels of lead. Most major brands of calcium supplements voluntarily meet the USP standards for purity and safe lead levels. They contain less than 7.5 mcg of lead – generally they are in the range of 2 – 5 mcg per 1000 mg of calcium. These brands include Tums, Oscal, Caltrate, Posture and Citrical among others. Look on the label to see if it states that the supplement meets USP standards. If you do not see it listed, a call directly to the manufacturer may tell you whether they meet these standards.

Another important fact to consider when looking at the problem of lead ingestion and calcium is that calcium actually protects your body from lead. It does this in two ways.

First, when you eat a food that contains both calcium and lead, the calcium prevents your body from absorbing the lead. This is because both lead and calcium are absorbed at the same site in your intestines, and this site actually prefers calcium over lead. Secondly, if you have previously been exposed to lead, keeping an adequate calcium intake can protect you from activating that lead. Lead is stored in your bones. If your intake of calcium is inadequate or too low, your body will pull the calcium from your bones. Not only does this weaken your bones, increasing your risk for osteoporosis, but it also releases the stored lead which can result in lead toxicity.

The bottom line is that calcium is a vitally important part of everyone’s healthy diet. Most Americans do not meet the recommended daily allowance. The RDA for calcium is 800 to 1200 mg per day for adults. The NIH (National Institutes of Health) recommends even higher amounts for good bone health—1,000 mg per day for most adults, and 1,200 mg per day for women past menopause who do not use estrogen. While food and dairy sources are the main way to take in calcium, calcium supplements are a safe and effective method of meeting your daily requirement.