Taking calcium for osteoporosis
What is the recommended daily amount of calcium?
Calcium should always be taken with vitamin D, because vitamin D is necessary for the body to absorb calcium.
Recommended calcium by age or life stage Age or life stage Recommended calcium intake (milligrams per day) 1–3 years 500 4–8 years 800 9–18 years 1,300 19–50 years 1,000 Older than 50 years 1,500 Pregnant or nursing women need the same as other women their age. 1,000 Most people do not get enough calcium through diet alone. You need to eat 3 to 4 servings per day of foods high in calcium to get the recommended daily amount.
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If I am a woman older than age 50, I need about 1,500 mg of calcium a day to keep my bones strong and healthy.
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Why is calcium used to treat or prevent osteoporosis?
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| Author: | Douglas Dana Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: February 21, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Carla J. Herman, MD, MPH - Internal Medicine Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine | |
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