Wellness Nutrition Vitamins and Supplements Should You Take Calcium and Vitamin D Together? By Maggie O'Neill Maggie O'Neill Maggie O’Neill is a health writer and reporter based in New York who specializes in covering medical research and emerging wellness trends, with a focus on cancer and addiction. Prior to her time at Health, her work appeared in the Observer, Good Housekeeping, CNN, and Vice. She was a fellow of the Association of Health Care Journalists’ 2020 class on Women’s Health Journalism and 2021 class on Cancer Reporting. In her spare time, she likes meditating, watching TikToks, and playing fetch with her dog, Finnegan. health's editorial guidelines Updated on December 19, 2024 Medically reviewed by Suzanne Fisher, RD Medically reviewed by Suzanne Fisher, RD Suzanne Fisher, RD, is the founding owner of Fisher Nutrition Systems. learn more Close PixelsEffect / Getty Images More than half of people in the United States take a dietary supplement, and calcium and vitamin D are among the most common. Taking calcium and vitamin D together is generally safe under the guidance of a healthcare provider. Research has been mixed about whether you can take them both at the same time. Taking supplements may raise the risk of getting too much of either nutrient. Too much calcium or vitamin D can lead to heart and kidney problems. Gender Disclaimer Health recognizes that not everyone who is a woman was born with female reproductive organs and that not everyone who is a man was born with male reproductive organs. Health also recognizes that people may not identify as any one sex or gender. The information in this article is based on how researchers present their results, and the gender- and sex-based language used most accurately reflects their research design and outcomes. What the Research Says One study found that taking calcium and vitamin D supplements together might increase your risk of stroke. The authors looked at previously published evidence concerning how supplements affect human health. Many of the studies that have looked at the use of calcium and vitamin D supplements also rely on follow-up data that lacks precision. Other studies have found that using calcium and vitamin D supplements is safe in moderation, particularly for older adults. Research has shown that the use of both supplements is still not overly helpful. Why You Need Calcium About 98% of your body's calcium supply can be found in your bones. Having enough calcium is important for: Blood clottingBlood vessel contraction and dilationBone healthHormonal secretionMuscle functionNerve communication How Much You Need Adults need the following daily amounts of calcium: Men aged 19-70 years old: 1,000 milligrams (mg)Men aged 71 years and older: 1,200 mgWomen aged 19-50 years old: 1,000 mgWomen aged 51 years and older: 1,200 mgPregnant people: 1,000 mgBreastfeeding people: 1,000 mg Why You Need Vitamin D Vitamin D also protects your bones and supports your muscles. It's also necessary to help with: Calcium absorptionImmune system functioningNerve communication One of the most popular ways to get vitamin D is going outside. Your body makes and stores vitamin D when sunlight reaches your skin. How Much You Need Adults need the following daily amounts of vitamin D: Adults aged 19-70 years old: 15 micrograms (mcg)Adults aged 71 years and older: 20 mcgPregnant people: 15 mcgBreastfeeding people: 15 mcg Risks and Side Effects It's good to have adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D to help your body function. Both supplements can have drug interactions. It's also possible to have too much of these nutrients from taking supplements. Potential Drug Interactions Both supplements can interact with certain medications. Calcium supplements might have interactions with: Dolutegravir, which is an HIV medicineLevothyroxine, or a thyroid hormoneLithium, which treats bipolar disorderQuinolone antibiotics Vitamin D supplements can have interactions with: Cholesterol-lowering statinsOrlistat, or a weight loss drugSteroidsThiazide diuretics, which treat hypertension (high blood pressure) Risks You may have high levels of calcium, but it's usually the result of a condition rather than supplements. The risks of high calcium intake are: Arrhythmia, or an abnormal heart rhythmHeart disease-related deathNephrolithiasis (kidney stones) Very high levels of vitamin D in the body usually come from taking too many supplements. Risks may include: ArrhythmiaDeathKidney failure Side Effects Calcium and vitamin D supplements do not come without potential side effects. You may collectively experience these side effects: Appetite and weight loss Confusion Constipation Dehydration or excessive thirst and urination Low levels of phosphate Muscle weakness or poor muscle tone Nausea or vomiting Pain Poor kidney function Tiredness How To Take Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) minimally regulates dietary supplements, which may or may not be suitable for you. Speak with a healthcare provider or pharmacist before you start any supplements. Dosage The safest amount of calcium from your diet and supplements is 2,500 milligrams daily. Your body can best absorb calcium at 500 milligrams or less daily. You may spread calcium supplementation throughout the day. The upper limit for vitamin D is 100 micrograms daily from your diet and supplements. Ensure supplementation alone does not reach this limit unless you have been diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency. Consult a healthcare provider to determine if you need to take both calcium and vitamin D together. Vitamin D may be available in some calcium supplements. Timing When you need to take calcium supplements depends on the type. Take calcium carbonate supplements when you are eating a meal. You can take calcium citrate supplements with or without food. Vitamin D is fat-soluble, so it can break down in fat. Take it when eating meals with fat content to best absorb vitamin D in its supplement form. Food Sources of Calcium and Vitamin D Do not stop taking calcium and vitamin D supplements together if a healthcare provider has instructed it. You may consider making dietary changes where possible if you are worried about your calcium and vitamin D intake and do not take supplements. Calcium Many dairy products have calcium, including cheese, milk, and yogurt. Other foods you could eat include: Boiled spinach Calcium-fortified products Fresh kale Salmon Tofu Turnip greens Vitamin D Vitamin D is naturally available in limited food sources. Try some of these nutrient-rich options: Braised beef liver Egg yolks Fatty fish like mackerel, salmon, trout, and tuna Fish liver oils Mushrooms Vitamin D-fortified products, such as cereals, milk, and plant-based milk A Quick Review Research has been mixed about whether calcium and vitamin D supplements can be taken together. It's generally safe to take at the same time with direction from a healthcare provider. Using calcium and vitamin D supplements may come with risks. You can reduce side effects by taking them properly or increasing your dietary intake of both nutrients. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit 9 Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dietary supplement use among adults: United States, 2017–2018. Kamiński M, Kręgielska-Narożna M, Bogdański P. Determination of the popularity of dietary supplements using Google search rankings. Nutrients. 2020;12(4):908. doi:10.3390/nu12040908 Zarzour F, Didi A, Almohaya M, Kendler D. Cardiovascular impact of calcium and vitamin D supplements: A narrative review. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul). 2023;38(1):56-68. doi:10.3803/EnM.2022.1644 National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements. Calcium - fact sheet for consumers. National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin D - fact sheet for consumers. Khan SU, Khan MU, Riaz H, et al. Effects of nutritional supplements and dietary interventions on cardiovascular outcomes: An umbrella review and evidence map. Ann Intern Med. 2019;171(3):190-198. doi:10.7326/M19-0341 National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements. Calcium - health professional fact sheet. National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin D - health professional fact sheet. MedlinePlus. Calcium supplements.