# item.guide
Side-by-Side Comparison Essential Vitamins & Minerals

Calcium (Elemental Ca) vs. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

Comparing 2 standards across 9 specifications. 9 key differences identified.

Comparing:
Calcium (Elemental Ca)
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body (1.0–1.2 kg), with 99% sequestered in hydroxyapatite bone lattice and 1% tightly regulated at 8.5–10.5 mg/dL serum for cardiac contractility, nerve signaling, and blood coagulation. Adult RDA is 1,000–1,200 mg/day.

View full Calcium (Elemental Ca) spec sheet →

Vitamin B1 is a water-soluble pyrimidine/thiazole vitamin acting as the Thiamine Pyrophosphate (TPP) coenzyme in pyruvate dehydrogenase, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, and transketolase. Adult RDA is 1.2 mg (men) / 1.1 mg (women) (no Upper Limit established).

View full Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) spec sheet →

Specification Comparison Table

9 Parameters
Parameter / Spec
Nutrient Type
Essential Macromineral Water-Soluble Thiazole Vitamin
Adult RDA / RDI
1,000 mg / day (Men 19–70, Women 19–50) / 1,200 mg (Women 51+, Men 71+) 1.2 mg / day (Men) / 1.1 mg / day (Women) (+0.3mg during pregnancy)
Tolerable Upper Limit (UL)
2,500 mg / day (Adults 19–50) / 2,000 mg / day (Adults 51+) (Avoid nephrolithiasis / vascular calcification) None Established (Rapid renal clearance of excess)
Chemical Forms
Calcium Carbonate (40% elemental Ca / requires stomach acid), Calcium Citrate (21% elemental Ca / acid-independent), Hydroxyapatite Thiamine Monophosphate, Thiamine Pyrophosphate (TPP / TDP, active coenzyme), Benfotiamine (Lipid-soluble synthetic)
Primary Biological Function
Hydroxyapatite bone/dental structure [Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2], Troponin-C actin-myosin muscle contraction, Factor IV blood clotting cascade, Exocytosis neurotransmitter release Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (Links glycolysis to Krebs cycle), Transketolase (Pentose Phosphate Pathway), Myelin neurotransmission
Deficiency Condition
Osteoporosis, Osteopenia, Rickets (children), Tetany (Trousseau's and Chvostek's signs of hypocalcemia) Beriberi (Wet beriberi: high-output heart failure; Dry beriberi: peripheral neuropathy), Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
Top Whole Food Sources
Parmigiano-Reggiano, Sharp Cheddar, Whole Milk, Sardines with bones, Kale, Tofu (Calcium-set), Fortified Plant Milk Pork Tenderloin, Sunflower Seeds, Nutritional Yeast, Enriched Grains, Black Beans, Flaxseeds
Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) Homeostasis
Serum Ca2+ drop triggers PTH secretion, stimulating renal 1-alpha-hydroxylase to produce active Calcitriol (1,25-OH-D3) and osteoclast bone resorption
Thermolability & Alcohol Interaction
Degraded by alkaline pH and high heat cooking; alcohol blocks intestinal active ThTr-1 transport