Taking calcium for osteoporosis
Why is calcium used to treat or prevent osteoporosis?
Calcium, combined with vitamin D, phosphorus, and weight-bearing exercise, keeps bone loss from getting worse or helps reduce the rate of bone loss that occurs with osteoporosis.
Your bones need vitamin D to absorb calcium. One study showed that vitamin D may reduce an older person's risk for falling by 22%.1 You need 400 IU of vitamin D per day if you are an adult age 19 to 50. If you are age 51 or older, you need 800 IU of vitamin D a day.
If you live in a sunny climate, you can get enough vitamin D through 10 to 15 minutes per day of sun exposure a few days a week; however, older people may not get enough this way. You can also get vitamin D in foods such as egg yolks, liver, salt water fish, and dairy products fortified with vitamin D. Taking a vitamin D supplement along with your calcium can help strengthen your bones.
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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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