Nutrition and Aging

		Bernadette Latson, MS, RD/LD Section Editor, Nutrition in Aging Section Editor, Vitamins and Dietary Supplements -Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Nutrition -Director, Coordinated Program in Clinical Dietetics UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

Add some important 'D'fense for strong bones
Posted: September 2005
Source: UT Southwestern Health News Tips
Media Contact: Donna Hansard

More and more older women attempting to prevent osteoporosis are taking calcium supplements. But don't forget another important ingredient - vitamin D - which is necessary for the efficient absorption of calcium. Without vitamin D, bone mass diminishes and the risk of fractures increases.

"Vitamin D is present only in a few foods, such as fatty fish, cod liver oil and vitamin D-fortified milk. It also may be formed in the skin with adequate ultraviolet light exposure, but many older people avoid excess sun exposure," says  Dr. Howard Heller, associate professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center. "In addition, as people age their production of vitamin D may decrease."

For adults, Dr. Heller recommends daily doses of 1,000 milligrams of calcium and 600 to 800 international units of vitamin D. For people over age 65 and postmenopausal women not on hormone-replacement therapy, the recommended dose of calcium increases to 1,500 milligrams. Most multiple vitamins contain about half the needed amount of vitamin D, and calcium tablets contain about a fourth your daily need.