Is it true that eggshells can supplement calcium?
Disease description:
Our family consumes a lot of eggs daily, resulting in many eggshells. I heard from others that eggshells can be used to supplement calcium. I would like to ask, is it true that eggshells can provide calcium supplementation?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Eggshells indeed contain calcium, mainly in the form of calcium carbonate, comprising more than 85%. They also contain proteins and various trace elements such as zinc, copper, and iron. Theoretically, consuming eggshells may help supplement calcium intake. However, in practice, eggshells are hard in texture, making the calcium they contain difficult for the human body to absorb and convert into a usable form. Therefore, the effectiveness of using eggshells as a calcium supplement is very limited, and they may potentially irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa, causing digestive discomfort. Thus, it is not recommended to consume eggshells for calcium supplementation. If additional calcium is needed, it is best to purchase calcium supplements under the guidance of a qualified physician or obtain calcium through daily dietary sources such as milk, shrimp shells, and other calcium-rich foods.
