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Does Vitamin D Help Osteoporosis

Check Your Vitamin D Level Twice A Year

Vitamin D Helps Osteoporosis

Regular, sensible sun exposure is the best way to optimize your vitamin D status, but many will need to take an oral vitamin D3 supplement, especially during winter months.

The only way to gauge whether you might need to supplement, and how much, is to get your level tested, ideally twice a year, in the early spring, after the winter, and early fall when you level is at its peak and low point. This is particularly important if youre pregnant or planning a pregnancy, or if you have cancer.

Again, the level youre aiming for is between 60 and 80 ng/mL, with 40 ng/mL being the low cutoff point for sufficiency to prevent a wide range of diseases, including cancer.

GrassrootsHealth makes testing easy by offering an inexpensive vitamin D testing kit as part of its consumer-sponsored research. By signing up, you are helping further vital health research that can help millions in coming years.

All women are also encouraged to enroll in the Breast Cancer Prevention project,49 to track your vitamin D level and help prevent an initial cancer occurrence, or, if youve already had it, to help prevent a recurrence. In addition, anyone affected by Type 1 Diabetes is invited to enroll in the Type 1 Diabetes Prevention Project.

A Complete Osteoporosis Program

Remember, a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D is only one part of an osteoporosis prevention or treatment program. Like exercise, getting enough calcium is a strategy that helps strengthen bones at any age. But these strategies may not be enough to stop bone loss caused by lifestyle, medications, or menopause. Your doctor can determine the need for an osteoporosis medication in addition to diet and exercise.

The National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases ~ National Resource Center acknowledges the assistance of the National Osteoporosis Foundation in the preparation of this publication.

Calcium Nutrition: Important Concepts

Ca is the most abundant mineral in the body. Approximately 1·2 kg is contained within the human body, with 99% of this Ca being located within the bones and teeth. Ca is also located in body fluids and soft tissues. It has two key roles: supporting structural integrity regulating metabolic function. Ca is essential for: cellular structure intercellular and intracellular metabolic function signal transmission muscle contractions, including heart muscle nerve function activities of enzymes normal clotting of blood. There is no functional marker of Ca status, since its role in normal blood clotting takes priority and hence plasma Ca is maintained within very narrow limits .

Fig. 4. Regulation of calcium levels in blood and tissue. 1,25 2D3, 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. reproduced with permission.)

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Vitamin D Supplements Do Not Prevent Osteoporosis

Taking vitamin D supplements does not improve bone mineral density, a study involving more than 4,000 healthy adults published in The Lancet has found.

With almost half of adults aged 50 and older in the US using vitamin D supplements, the authors conclude that continuing widespread use of these supplements to prevent osteoporosis in healthy adults is needless.

Professor Ian Reid from the University of Auckland in New Zealand and study leader explains:

Most healthy adults do not need vitamin D supplements. Our data suggest that the targeting of low-dose vitamin D supplements only to individuals who are likely to be deficient could free up substantial resources that could be better used elsewhere in healthcare.

Prof. Reid and colleagues from the University of Auckland conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of all randomized trials examining the effects of vitamin D supplementation on bone mineral density in healthy adults up to July 2012.

According to the American Academy of Orthapedic Surgeons, osteoporosis affects 10 million people in the US, with a further 18 million at risk of the disease.

Bone mineral density is a measure of bone strength and measures the amount of bone mineral present at different sites.

This measurement was taken at one of five sites lumbar spine, femoral neck , total hip, trochanter , total body or forearm. Because the trochanter is a major component of the total hip, the findings for this area were included with the hip.

The Benefits Of Protein For Osteoporosis

Swisse Ultiboost Calcium + Vitamin D 90 Tablets Bone ...

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  • Does Protein Help With Osteoporosis?
  • The importance of bone health cannot be overstated. Our bones provide structural support and protection from injury. They also store minerals and are important for movement. By educating consumers and health care providers, we can promote bone health and prevent or slow down bone loss. There are many factors that affect bone health, including age, gender, genetics, and physical activity. The following are some tips to promote bone well-being. These tips can be implemented throughout a lifetime.

    The Surgeon Generals Report suggests that federal, state, and local government agencies and community organizations work together to improve the bone health of all Americans. The coordinated efforts should include all of these stakeholders and emphasize the dissemination of best practices. Its important to be informed about your bone health, and its important to visit your physician regularly for periodic evaluations.

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    Vitamin D For Osteoporosis

    Planning to eat right for healthier bones? Calcium is probably the nutrient you think of first. But vitamin D is just as important for keeping bones strong and preventing the bone disease osteoporosis.

    Vitamin D helps your intestines absorb calcium from the food you eat. Getting enough of both nutrients is an important part of making sure your bones are dense and strong.

    Unlike calcium, which you only get through food, your body makes vitamin D when sunlight hits your skin. Active people who live in sunny regions can get at least some of what they need from spending time outdoors every day. But in less temperate areas such as Minnesota, Michigan, and New York, the skin makes less vitamin D in the winter months, especially for older adults.

    The amount your skin makes depends on where you live, how light or dark your skin is, and the time of day youâre outside. It could be about 15 minutes for a very fair-skinned person and an hour or two for someone with darker skin. But you have to be careful — too much time in the sun raises your chance of having skin cancer. Even though sunlight is a key part of your bodyâs vitamin D production, itâs best to protect your skin with clothing and sunscreen if youâll be outside for more than a few minutes.

    How else can you get vitamin D? A few foods have it, such as:

    • Fatty fish, like salmon, tuna, and mackerel
    • Beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks
    • Foods with added vitamin D, such as milk, orange juice, and cereal

    Show Sources

    Does Pregnancy Affect Bone Density

    Maybe. Your unborn baby needs calcium to help his or her bones grow. While in the womb, babies get calcium from what you eat . If you don’t get enough calcium from food or supplements, your baby will use the calcium in your bones.

    You can lose some bone density during pregnancy, but any bone mass lost is usually restored after childbirth . Also, during pregnancy, you absorb calcium from food and supplements better than women who are not pregnant. Your body also makes more of the hormone estrogen, which protects bone.

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    Symposium On Diet And Bone Health

    Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 April 2008

    Susan A. Lanham-New*
    Affiliation:Nutritional Sciences Division, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK
    *
    Corresponding author: Dr Susan Lanham-New, fax +44 1483 686401

    Endocrinological Diseases Vitamin D And Op

    Vitamin D: Prevention of Osteoporosis & Cancer

    Vitamin D, bone modifications, and endocrinological diseases. VD can increase the activity of the innate immune system and stimulate the adaptive immune response, promoting immune tolerance and reducing the development of autoimmune disease.

    VD deficiency and insufficiency are also common in primary hyperparathyroidism . PHPT is an endocrinological disorder characterized by hypercalcemia and elevated serum parathyroid hormone , often with asymptomatic presentation. RANKL expression is increased in PHPT and is associated with prevalent cortical bone loss and a decrease in BMD in the distal forearm and the hip, which leads to a major risk of fractures . Parathyroidectomy, bisphosphonates, and denosumab may normalize serum calcium levels and increase BMD in patients with PHPT, preventing fracture events . Data regarding the skeletal effects of VD in PHPT are not conclusive, but VD status did not appear to significantly impact clinical presentation or BMD. Hypovitaminosis D causes secondary hyperparathyroidism. In all patients with osteopenia and OP, frequent dosing of 25D blood levels is recommended in order to identify secondary hyperparathyroidism, which may require supplementation of 25D. This strategy allows one to decrease PTH blood values, facilitate optimal calcium absorption, and normalize the calcium bone metabolism .

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    Vitamin K And Osteoporosis: Myth Or Reality

    • 1 These authors contributed equally to this work.Andrea Palermo1 These authors contributed equally to this work.Affiliations
    • 1 These authors contributed equally to this work.Dario TuccinardiCorrespondenceCorresponding author at: Dept. of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy. Tel.: +39 06 2241 1297 fax: +39 06 22541 9721.1 These authors contributed equally to this work.Affiliations
    • 2 These authors contributed equally to this work.Luca DOnofrio2 These authors contributed equally to this work.Affiliations
    • 2 These authors contributed equally to this work.Mikiko Watanabe2 These authors contributed equally to this work.AffiliationsDepartment of Experimental Medicine, Section of Medical Physiopathology and Endocrinology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
    • 1 These authors contributed equally to this work.2 These authors contributed equally to this work.

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    Does Protein Help With Osteoporosis

    Is protein helpful for bone health? Many researchers disagree, but the evidence points in one direction: high protein intake can be beneficial. According to a 2014 study, a woman with osteoporosis who ate 25 grams of protein three times a day reduced her risk of fracture by 27 percent. A balanced diet is not associated with altered bone strength, fragility fractures, or osteoporosis progression, according to this expert consensus.

    However, researchers have found a positive correlation between high protein intake and osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women. This study looked at the association between total protein, animal protein, and vegetable protein. The case-control study was conducted in Spain, where protein intake was similar between women and men. The control group was also high in protein. This suggested that the positive relationship between protein intake and osteoporosis is not real, but it is worth investigating.10

    The same study found no correlation between high protein intake and osteoporosis. It found no differences in urinary N-telopeptide levels or serum osteocalcin among the groups. The higher the protein intake, the lower the risk of developing the disease. But reverse causation may also exist. Regardless, the research supports the fact that higher protein intake is beneficial for long-term bone health.

    Image Credits

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    How Can I Get Free Or Low

    Screening for osteoporosis is covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare Part B. Depending on your insurance plan, you may be able to get screenings at no cost to you.

    • If you have insurance, check with your insurance provider to find out what’s included in your plan.
    • If you have Medicare, find out about Medicare coverage for bone density tests.
    • If you have Medicaid, the benefits covered are different in each state, but certain benefits must be covered. Check with your state’s Medicaid program to find out what’s covered.
    • If you don’t have insurance, you may be able to get a no-cost or low-cost bone density test. To learn more, find a health center near you by entering your ZIP code in our health clinic finder on the top left side or bottom of this page. To see whether you are eligible for low-cost or no-cost health insurance, visit HealthCare.gov.

    Should I Take A Calcium Supplement

    The Importance of Vitamin D

    The answer depends on how much calcium you need each day and how much calcium you get from the foods you eat.

    It’s best to get the calcium your body needs from food. But if you don’t get enough calcium from the foods you eat, you may want to consider taking a calcium supplement.

    You can get calcium supplements at the grocery store or drug store. Talk with your doctor or nurse before taking calcium supplements to see which kind is best for you and how much you need to take.

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    Control Of Ca Balance

    An adult on a normal mixed diet is usually in a state of equilibrium, i.e. the amount lost in the faeces and urine is approximately equal to the amount present in the food. In growing children the body is normally in positive balance. Ca is steadily maintained for the formation of new bone. When the need of the bones is great the net absorption of dietary Ca via the intestinal mucosa can be much greater than normal. The main features of Ca balance include a miscible pool mainly in blood and extracellular fluids, which provides for the slow turnover in bones. The pool is replenished by dietary Ca and losses occur in urine.

    It is very important to note that the concentration of plasma Ca is finely regulated and controls the size of the pool. Ca balance is hence actively controlled by a large number of factors. The external balance of Ca is, in effect, determined by the exchange between the skeleton, the intestine and the kidney. These fluxes are controlled by the action of calciotrophic hormones: parathyroid hormone 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol calcitonin. It is also influenced by other factors such as sex hormones, growth hormones, corticosteroids and a variety of locally-acting hormones .

    Within bone, Ca is in the form of hydroxyapatite crystals 6 2), which also contain P and Mg, and contributes to its strength. P is found in abundance in a variety of foods but Mg is more limited and is an area of bone health nutrition that requires further attention.

    Vitamin D And Osteoporosis Prevention

    Vitamin D is vital for bone health. Your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium and increase bone density and mass. Without strong, dense bones, you are more likely to develop osteoporosis . Vitamin D comes from three sources: sunlight, food and supplements/medications. Your skin makes vitamin D from UVB rays in sunlight, or the ultra-violet light. As we age though, our ability to make vitamin D decreases and the time spent indoors often increases. Vitamin D is frequently found in or added to some dairy products, cereals and fatty fish. Since vitamin D is only found naturally in a few foods, it is extremely difficult to get all the vitamin D your bones need from your diet alone. If you do not get enough vitamin D you should consider taking a supplement. If you need help determining how much vitamin D you should be taking and choosing a supplement, ask your healthcare provider. They will recommend one and help you decide how much your body needs.

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    How Do Vitamin D And Calcium Help Prevent Osteoporosis

    We all know that calcium is important in building strong bones, but Vitamin D plays a crucial role in bone health too! Read on to learn how calcium and vitamin D help to prevent osteoporosis, as well as what you can do to live a bone-healthy lifestyle.

    What is osteoporosis and what causes it?

    Osteoporosis is a bone condition where the bones are brittle, have low bone density and decreased bone strength. This occurs when there is an imbalance between new bone formation and old bone resorption . Osteoporosis causes bones to become weaker and thinner, putting patients at higher risk of fracture, especially in the hip, spine, and wrist.

    Why is Vitamin D important for bone health? Is Vitamin D or Calcium more important?

    Vitamin D is essential in for proper bone health as it helps the absorption of calcium which builds stronger bones. Calcium is the main building block of bone, and maintains bone strength and density, but it would not be able to do so without enough vitamin D.

    Both Vitamin D and calcium are important as they work together to help maintain your bones. Having sufficient calcium would go to waste if you do not have sufficient Vitamin D, and vice versa.

    How can you get enough calcium and vitamin D?

    Most people can take in enough calcium from the foods that they eat.

    Good calcium sources include:

    • Dairy products milk, yogurt, cheese
    • Leafy, green vegetables spinach, kale
    • Tofu, tempeh

    What else can you do to prevent osteoporosis?

    What Are The Dangers Of Osteoporosis

    How Much Vitamin D Do You Need to Prevent Osteoporosis?

    Women are at risk for osteoporosis, especially those who are experiencing early menopause or taking certain medications. Bone mass increases when we are young, but it peaks by the time we are 30. This can lead to less physical activity and more isolation. In addition, a decreased level of estrogen can lead to bone loss, causing muscle and joint pain. Even the best treatments can lead to unwanted side effects.8

    The best way to prevent osteoporosis is to increase your physical activity. While it is important to increase the amount of physical activity, the best way to get the most benefit from your exercise routine is to mix strength training with weight-bearing exercises. If you are not a regular exerciser, ask your doctor to prescribe a program that combines weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing activities.

    If you have a family history of the condition, you are at risk. Those who have a history of broken bones are also at high risk for osteoporosis. Other lifestyle factors can also increase the risk of osteoporosis. Drinking alcohol and smoking are known to reduce bone density and increase the risk of fractures. Heavy alcohol consumption can increase the risk of falling, so it is important to limit your intake of alcohol and tobacco.

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