ProCaps Laboratories Branched Chain Amino Acids

Our assessment

The evidence shows that calcium is essential for your bone health and muscle function, but you need to be careful with dosing. Our assessment is that while calcium from food is generally safe, supplementing with high doses carries real risks that you should discuss with your doctor [NIH ODS].

How it works

Think of calcium as a building block for your skeleton and a signal messenger for your nerves and muscles. It supports bone density and mineral deposition, and it helps your muscles relax and your nerves send signals properly [NIH ODS].

Safety profile

Data not available for this specific product's side effects. However, for calcium overall, FDA received 592,059 total adverse event reports across all supplements. High levels of calcium in your blood and urine can cause poor muscle tone, poor kidney function, low phosphate levels, constipation, nausea, weight loss, extreme tiredness, frequent need to urinate, abnormal heart rhythms, and a high risk of death from heart disease [FDA data] [NIH ODS]. Some research also suggests high calcium intakes might increase the risk of heart disease and prostate cancer [NIH ODS]. Additionally, calcium can reduce the absorption of several medications, including bisphosphonates, tetracycline antibiotics, fluoroquinolone antibiotics, levothyroxine, and phenytoin [NIH ODS].

Our recommendation

We recommend getting your calcium primarily from food sources and only supplementing if your doctor confirms you need it after a blood test. If you take calcium supplements, never exceed the recommended dose on the label and take them separately from other medications by at least two hours. Be aware of the serious risks at high doses and report any symptoms like nausea, constipation, or extreme tiredness to your healthcare provider immediately [NIH ODS] [FDA data].

Supplement labels contain several key sections regulated by the FDA:

• Serving Size — The recommended amount per dose. Always check this — some products require multiple capsules per serving.
• Amount Per Serving — Shows the quantity of each nutrient in the product, typically in IU (International Units), mg (milligrams), or mcg (micrograms).
• % Daily Value (%DV) — Indicates how much a nutrient in a serving contributes to a daily diet. 5% DV or less is low; 20% DV or more is high.
• Other Ingredients — Lists inactive ingredients like fillers, binders, and capsule materials (e.g., gelatin, cellulose, magnesium stearate).
• Suggested Use — The manufacturer's recommended directions for taking the supplement, including timing and dosage.

Source: FDA Dietary Supplement Labeling Guide