Many women find it difficult to meet their daily calcium needs through diet alone, so Dr. Weil recommends supplementing to fill in the gaps. Dr. Weil recommends 500-700 mg of supplemental calcium every day for women for a total of 1,000 to 1,200 mg from all sources, while men probably do not need to supplement, instead getting their needed 500-600 mg daily from food. Calcium in the diet plays a vital role in bone mineralization during the growth years. Even after maximum bone mass has been achieved, calcium intake continues to be important to help slow down bone loss later in life. Calcium citrate appears to be better absorbed, especially in older adults, than other forms.