Taking vitamin D and calcium WON'T prevent broken bones, say leading experts

• Taking typical supplement dose provides no benefits for average publish-menopause women, finds U.S task pressure
• But individuals at high-risk of weak bones should consult their physician

By Claire Bates

Released: 14:31 GMT, 26 Feb 2013

The NHS suggests quickly 65 have a daily vitamin D supplement

Older ladies who pop vitamin D and supplements to avoid damaged bones might be taking them useless, based on leading experts.

A U.S government advisory group found taking typical low doses provided no benefits for average publish-menopause women.

Furthermore taking 400IU of vitamin D and 1,000mg of calcium daily elevated the chance of developing kidney gemstones.

Both nutrition are very important for building and looking after strong, healthy bones and specialists advise getting whenever possible from a respectable diet and contact with sunlight.

If the older person includes a vitamin deficiency or bone-loss brittle bones, doctors frequently prescribe greater-than-normal doses.

However for otherwise healthy postmenopausal women, adding modest supplements for their diet will not make any impact.

It is not obvious if individuals doses offer bone protection if taken before menopause, or maybe they assist men's bones, based on the new recommendations in the U.S. Preventive Services Task Pressure.

It is a confusing message thinking about that for a long time, calcium and vitamin D supplements happen to be broadly considered an insurance plan against brittle bones, with little lower side to taking them.

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The NHS presently suggests quickly 65 have a daily vitamin D pill, although a maximum of 25micrograms (or 1,000IUs).

'Regrettably, we do not have just as much information as we wish to have in regards to a substance that's been around a very long time so we once thought we understood,' stated Dr Virginia Moyer from the Baylor College of drugs, who heads the job pressure.

'Turns out, there is lots more to understand.A

The advice aren't for individuals at high-risk of weak bones, for example individuals with past bone fractures. These folks should consult their local physician.

Calcium ought to be supplied by your diet plan where possible

Within the U.S the typical adult is suggested to obtain about 1,000mg of calcium, 1,300 for postmenopausal women, every single day. For vitamin D, the aim is 600 IUs of vitamin D daily moving to 800 once you hit 70.

The nutrition are available in meals including orange juice prepared with calcium and D dairy meals for example milk, yogurt and cheese certain seafood including fish and prepared breakfast cereal products.

Dr Moyer also recommends healthy pensioners to workout because this is shown to shoreline up bones and great for the relaxation from the body, too

Cara Welch, senior v . p . of scientific and regulating matters for that Natural Product Association in Washington, D.C., told Reuters Health the audience disagrees using the new recommendation.

'We believe this recommendation has run out of step with current research, also it should not affect customers who are attempting to supplement their calcium and vitamin D intake with supplements,' Welch stated.

Based on the newest data from the national survey of People in america, 56 percent of ladies over six decades old take vitamin D supplements, and 60 % take supplements. The 2 vitamins are frequently offered together and therefore are relatively affordable.