What Is Coral Calcium?

Coral calcium is a salt of calcium derived from fossilized coral reefs. Because living coral reefs are endangered and cannot be harvested without severe damage to the ecosystem, coral calcium is harvested by grinding up above-ground limestone deposits that were once part of a coral reef.

Coral calcium itself is composed primarily of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) with small amounts of magnesium and other trace minerals. Chemically, calcium carbonate from coral sources is no different than from other sources of calcium, despite the claims otherwise by some companies. However, the addition of trace minerals, which may be dietary deficient in a person, could explain why some claim benefits of coral calcium over more refined sources of calcium supplements.

While the calcium component of coral calcium is identical to any other limestone deposit, fossilized coral reefs may contain trace minerals helpful to the human body. Though it's unlikely that a well-fed individual would be deficient in any of these minerals, clear dietary data shows that the average American diet may be providing abundant levels of calories, salt, fat and preservatives, it is otherwise low in nutrition.

There have been many unsubstantiated claims made regarding coral calcium, perhaps the most controversial of which is that taking coral calcium can cure cancer by increasing "body pH." Scientific studies have been performed indicating that cancer cells cannot survive at sufficiently high pH (or alkalinity) levels. What the marketers of coral calcium usually fail to mention is that these studies were conducted in-vitro and not in any living animal. The reason for this is that the pH required to kill cancer cells also kills healthy human cells.

Another problem with the "body alkalinization" idea is that the body pH doesn't change, regardless of how much calcium carbonate is ingested. The human body can only function properly within a narrow pH range, and if alkalinizing agents such as CaCO₃ are ingested, the body promptly excretes the alkaline components in urine. So, people who attempt to increase the pH of their bodies are really only succeeding in raising the pH of their urine. The same applies if acidic foods are ingested in that the urine becomes more acidic.

Calcium itself is an essential mineral for human life, and coral calcium is an effective source of it, though by no means the only one. When researching any supplement, keep in mind that supplements are intended to improve nutrition. They are not designed to treat, cure or mitigate any disease.

Coral Calcium "Side Effects" (which would be from taking too much calcium) would be no different than from any other source of calcium. Increased calcium intake does not cause toxic effects. The body expels what it does not need--as it does with ALL food. Extended high intake of calcium can increase the risk of kidney stones.

The benefit of Coral Calcium isn't entirely clear. While there are numerous stories from people who have experienced significant health benefits from taking coral calcium, it has not been proven, or disproven, that this was due to the calcium, the other trace minerals or some other dietary deficiency which was improved through the intake of the coral calcium or some other supplement being taken as well. Because of this, the claims of Coral Calcium benefits should be viewed objectively and hype of both proponents and opponents should be factored as extreme opinions while searching for a middle ground and objective context of your own due diligence.