Calcium, Magnesium & Vitamin C

Calcium, magnesium and vitamin C reference formula at example amounts of 210 mg, 100 mg and 90 mg per serving, developed as a tablet or powder.

Calcium, Magnesium & Vitamin C is a reference formula for brands building a three-active mineral and vitamin product around example amounts of 210 mg of calcium, 100 mg of magnesium and 90 mg of vitamin C per serving. This page covers the three named actives of the reference formula; the brand sets the final amounts for its market.

Tablet is the lead format because the three actives weigh about 780 mg as raw materials and fit one coated tablet, while a powder version uses soluble citrate salts in a stick pack. The development work centers on salt weight, the choice of mineral salts for each format and the stability of ascorbic acid next to mineral carbonates and oxides.

Ingredient Composition

IngredientPer ServingRaw Material FormAlternative Form (same amount of active)
Calcium210 mg (example amount)Calcium carbonate for tablets, specified on elemental calcium content; 210 mg calcium per servingCalcium citrate for powders, with the input recalculated to 210 mg of elemental calcium
Magnesium100 mg (example amount)Magnesium oxide for tablets, specified on elemental magnesium content; 100 mg magnesium per servingMagnesium citrate or magnesium glycinate for powders or for a gentler salt, with the input recalculated to 100 mg of elemental magnesium
Vitamin C90 mg (example amount)L-ascorbic acid, specified on an ascorbic acid basis; 90 mg vitamin C per servingSodium ascorbate, with the input recalculated to 90 mg of ascorbic acid; natural-source Acerola Cherry Extract 17–25% Natural Vitamin C with the input set from its vitamin C content

Amounts are stated as mg of elemental calcium (Ca, 40.08 g/mol; PubChem CID 5460341), elemental magnesium (Mg, 24.305 g/mol; CID 5462224) and ascorbic acid (C6H8O6, 176.12 g/mol; CID 54670067). Element content by weight follows from the anhydrous molecular weights: calcium carbonate 40.0% (CID 10112, 100.09 g/mol), calcium citrate 24.1% (CID 13136, 498.4 g/mol), magnesium oxide 60.3% (CID 14792, 40.305 g/mol) and magnesium citrate 16.2% (CID 6099959, 451.12 g/mol, three magnesium atoms per formula unit). Hydrate state and assay of each purchased salt are set with the supplier.

Intended Benefits & Formula Rationale

This formula is designed for products positioned around daily mineral and vitamin C intake. Calcium, magnesium and vitamin C are included together so that one serving carries two minerals and one antioxidant vitamin.

Intended Benefit DirectionKey IngredientsFormulation Rationale
Daily calcium intakeCalciumIncluded because the 2011 Institute of Medicine report sets calcium Recommended Dietary Allowances of 700 to 1300 mg per day for ages one year and older, based on skeletal health [1]. Evidence: Referenced
Daily magnesium intakeMagnesiumIncluded because magnesium is an essential element required as a cofactor for over 300 enzymatic reactions, and a review reports that nearly two-thirds of the population in the western world does not reach the recommended daily allowance [2]. Evidence: Referenced
Daily vitamin C intakeVitamin CIncluded as an essential micronutrient and electron donor with antioxidant and enzyme-cofactor roles, which a review links to the cellular functions of the immune system [3]. Evidence: Referenced

The amounts are examples that a brand moves for its market, and the combination is a design choice. A review of trial evidence reports that calcium supplements commonly produce gastrointestinal side effects and increase the risk of renal calculi [4], so the calcium tier and the label directions are reviewed for each sales market.

Available Formats

The calcium, magnesium and vitamin C reference formula is built for a tablet version and a powder version; counts per serving are design choices that the brand can adjust.

FormatUnitPer ServingPack SizeOther Ingredients (typical)Suitability
Tablet1 tabletCalcium 210 mg, magnesium 100 mg, vitamin C 90 mg60 or 120 tabletsDibasic calcium phosphate, microcrystalline cellulose, maltodextrin, modified corn starch, crospovidone, film coatLead format; mineral salts and ascorbic acid in one coated unit
Powder1 stick pack (4 g)Calcium 210 mg, magnesium 100 mg, vitamin C 90 mg30 stick packsCitric acid, sweetener, flavor, anti-caking agentDrink mix with soluble citrate salts

Raw Material Input & Fill (Design Estimate)

Design estimates. The input is the element amount divided by the element content of each salt at an assumed 100% assay: for tablets calcium carbonate at 40.0% (524 mg) and magnesium oxide at 60.3% (166 mg); for powders calcium citrate at 24.1% (871 mg) and magnesium citrate at 16.2% (619 mg); and ascorbic acid at 100% (90 mg) in both.

FormatRaw Material Input per UnitDesign FillBalance for ExcipientsVerification Before Scale-Up
TabletCaCO3 524 mg, MgO 166 mg, ascorbic acid 90 mg (780 mg in total)1000 mg tablet weight220 mgCompression behavior, hardness, disintegration, ascorbic acid stability, content assay of the three actives
PowderCalcium citrate 871 mg, magnesium citrate 619 mg, ascorbic acid 90 mg (1580 mg in total)4000 mg per stick2420 mgDissolution, taste, moisture pickup, content assay of the three actives

Capsule and gummy versions are separate projects, because a salt load of this size needs several capsules or a different matrix.

Formulation Considerations

Salt weight and unit size. The three raw materials weigh about 780 mg in the tablet and about 1.6 g in the powder for the same element amounts. Tablet weight, stick weight and the number of units per day follow from the salts chosen for each format.
Ascorbic acid next to alkaline salts. Calcium carbonate and magnesium oxide are alkaline, and ascorbic acid is sensitive to moisture and air. Granulation order, a moisture barrier coat and a desiccant are tested in stability work, and color change is part of the release check.
Magnesium salt choice. Magnesium oxide yields the most magnesium per gram, and magnesium citrate and glycinate are the alternatives for powders or a gentler product. The supplier assay fixes the input weight of whichever salt is chosen.
Calcium tier and market review. The trial review in [4] reports gastrointestinal effects and a higher renal calculi risk with calcium supplements, so the calcium amount, the label directions and the dose limit for each sales market are reviewed before a product is developed.

Customization Options

Brands adjust the amount of each active, the mineral salts, the format and the add-ons.

ParameterRangeNote
Calcium per serving120 to 210 mgExamples for the brand; tablet weight scales with the salt weight
Magnesium per serving100 to 140 mgExamples for the brand; oxide gives the smallest unit
Vitamin C per serving60 to 120 mgExamples for the brand; ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate
FormatTablet or powderCapsule and gummy are separate projects
Add-onsVitamin D, vitamin K2, zincEach added active moves the tablet weight and the ascorbic acid stability plan

The pilot run confirms compression behavior at the full salt load, ascorbic acid stability next to the mineral salts, powder dissolution and taste, and the content assay of the three actives in the first units against the labeled amounts.

Flavor Options

FormatSuggested FlavorsWhy
PowderOrange, lemon-lime, berryCitrus and berry profiles suit the acidity of ascorbic acid and citrate salts

Technical Status & Data Sources

ItemStatusDetails
Reference formulaNIH DSLDThe ingredient and amount come from a labeled product in the NIH DSLD (calcium 210 mg, magnesium 100 mg and vitamin C 90 mg on the label of CF025543, a multivitamin and mineral tablet; example DSLD labels 257071, 257074, 257075). The label names the three actives by element and vitamin; calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide and ascorbic acid are set as the forms.
SpecificationSet in formulationCalcium carbonate, magnesium oxide and L-ascorbic acid, per serving 210 mg calcium, 100 mg magnesium and 90 mg vitamin C; assay, particle size and heavy-metal limits and method are fixed with the supplier. Unit size, fill weight and stability are set in formulation.
Data sourceNIH DSLDDSLD v9.4.0, downloaded 2026-01-10: 50,824 reference formulas merged from on-market labels with complete ingredient amounts. Counts show how labels are distributed.
Market reviewPer marketDose limits, labeling and claims are reviewed for each sales market before a finished product is developed.
ReferencesSources[1] Ross AC, Manson JE, Abrams SA, et al. The 2011 report on dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D from the Institute of Medicine: what clinicians need to know. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96(1):53-8. DOI · PubMed<br>[2] Schwalfenberg GK, Genuis SJ. The Importance of Magnesium in Clinical Healthcare. Scientifica (Cairo). 2017;2017:4179326. DOI · PubMed<br>[3] Carr AC, Maggini S. Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients. 2017;9(11):1211. DOI · PubMed<br>[4] Reid IR. Calcium Supplementation- Efficacy and Safety. Curr Osteoporos Rep. 2025;23(1):8. DOI · PubMed

Related products

OEM/ODM Development Inquiry

Essencefield supports custom supplement formulation and OEM/ODM development, including ingredient selection, dosage adjustments, delivery formats, flavors, packaging, and commercial supply. Submit your project requirements below to explore customization options, sample development, and manufacturing solutions tailored to your brand and target market.