On long term I really don't know how good it is to the bones, but the fact its natural ingredients is better than the other products in the store. I been using it for almost a year now, and I 've read positive reviews on this. I would recommend this to those to prevent bone loss from further damage.

For a number of years now, there has been a question perplexing researchers: Why is that Americans have one of the highest rates of osteoporosis in the world, and yet they also consume the most calcium supplements? If we have the cure, why do we still have the problem worse than almost anyone else? If your bones need calcium, why does calcium end up in the arteries, where it causes devastating problems? If so many post-menopausal women dutifully take 1000 mg of calcium a day, why is the problem of bone-loss still so huge? Because lack of calcium is not really the issue, and big amounts of calcium is not the cure. Like so many things, the answer is complicated. I worked as a supplement buyer for almost 15 years, went to thousands of hours of training, tried every brand of calcium you can buy in a health food store, heard countless arguments about what is the best way to prevent bone-loss, read stacks of research papers, and helped thousands of customers, and saw the results of their choices. Below are some questions customers used to ask me about this particular product--if it is good (yes), what makes it different (several things), and if it changed after the P&G buyout of New Chapter (a little bit). I hope this helps those of you trying to decide what on earth to pluck out of the sea of endless calcium supplements. Here we go!

WHAT FORM OF CALCIUM IS THIS? This is a red mineral algae product. So, New Chapter makes a big deal about how most calcium supplements are chalk (calcium carbonate) from limestone. But the calcium in this supplement IS limestone--it's just been predigested by algae that live on the cliffs and rocks of Iceland (really). In addition to the calcium, the algae contain a host of other trace minerals, and some magnesium as well. So if all this is is predigested limestone, is it really a worthwhile supplement? Yes.

WHY IS THIS BETTER THAN, SAY, CALCIUM CHEWS I CAN GET FROM COSTCO?: This will actually change your bones. Bones aren't composed of just calcium. They are composed of a spectacular matrix of minerals. Picture the minerals as the raw materials at a construction site. Materials don't assemble themselves. Now picture the added Vitamin K as a foreman, working to assemble those minerals, and the added vitamin D as a sort of signpost, telling the foreman where to put what. There are lots of stories in the Wellness field about this supplement; my favorite one involves a Wellness manager that took this while pregnant, and her baby was born with teeth. Yowza. (Of course, if you're pregnant you need to consult with your practitioner before starting any supplements.) For a less anecdotal example, a 2010 study you can find on PubMed concluded that lithothamnion calcareum (the algea calcium) held off bone loss in mice that were deliberately fed a diet to make their bones weak.

WHY IS THIS SO PRICEY?: In addition to the red mineral algae, there are several ingredients driving the price up. The K2, made from natto, is very expensive to source. The tablets themselves are mostly composed of foods, much of it organic. The D3 and the K1 have also been fermented in a food base, which brings us to the next point...

WATCH OUT IF: You have celiac disease, or gluten sensitivities. As other reviewers have already pointed out, NC is using wheat to feed the live yeast in their fermentation process. The result has a low enough parts-per-billion count of gluten to pass the FDA's threshold for labeling a product gluten-free. Sadly, the FDA is not the most on top of it group of peeps. I have a gluten allergy, and I have definitely reacted to products that contain very low amounts of gluten. Takes a while, but eventually my skin begins to break out, and if I were to continue consuming the product, my eyes would start to swell up. Other people have reported the same problem; at some point they begin to react. If you have a serious allergy, this is not for you. Don't care what the FDA says--they're not the ones who are going to be clutching their tummies in pain. That's all I have to say about that. Moving on...

HOW MUCH DID THE PROCTOR AND GAMBLE BUYOUT AFFECT THE NEW CHAPTER PRODUCT: It did affect things quite a bit. Much of the senior staff departed, and ingredients changed (less organic ingredients, but the same prices). The Bone Strength is still a quality product though, and didn't changed in the essentials. The main issue, for me, is ethical. P&G are horrible polluters of the environment and the animal testing they do would make anyone's stomach turn. On the one hand, buying this product contributes to their bottom line. On the other hand, buying this product, and many New Chapter products, encourages P&G to diversify from their customary evil and they have the deep pockets to get NC and the NC philosophy into the hands and minds of mainstream people and not just those who frequent co-ops. And the masses could use a better calcium. It's up to each person to weigh the pluses and minuses.The lady or the tiger?

When you look at the research, it's clear that the single most powerful thing a woman can do for strong bones is weight-bearing exercise. In studies, weight-bearing exercise outperforms everything: drugs, supplements, genetics, everything. You need at least three 20 minute sessions per week. So if you're only going to do one thing, do that. The key to strong bones is also in what people DON'T do, like smoking and drinking soda. Just don't do it. But I know that supplements that contain the full host of elements you need can be useful as well. This is, honestly, one of the best blends on the market, if only for the superior K and the inclusion of the vitamin D (and NC added a bit of fat to the formula to make sure you absorb the fat-soluble D and K. Nice.). As such it merits five stars, and rates:

GRADE: A-

I believe this is one of the best calcium supplements available and the smaller tablet size is a bonus.

seems to work, but it's hard to tell if it works without a physical follow up.

I have been taking New Chapter Bone Strength for about 14 months now. After much research I choose New Chapter over others manufacturers. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis 12/15/14 and just had a bone scan done last week. I am ecstatic to report I have gone from osteoporosis back to osteopenia.