The role of vitamin D and calcium in bone health
Calcium is an essential mineral for many body functions,
including the formation and maintenance of healthy bones. The
human body does not produce calcium; he gets it from food
or supplements. Because the bones break down and you
constantly rebuild, calcium is necessary during
lifetime. Vitamin D is also essential for bone health,
mainly because it helps the calcium ingested to be absorbed
from the intestine. Most vitamin D of the body
produces the skin in response to sunlight, but it also
It can absorb food and supplements.
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Bone density and risk of fractures
With age, the rate of bone breakdown begins at
overcome the reconstitution index. In women, a reason
important is a decrease in estrogen levels
during menopause. Over time, this can cause a
low bone density (fragile bones). Finally, this can
cause osteoporosis (porous bones). People with
osteoporosis are more likely to have bone fractures,
especially after a trauma, like a fall.
Get enough vitamin D and calcium through
food at a young age can decrease the risk of
develop osteoporosis later. However, the function of
Taking vitamin D and calcium supplements is less clear.
What is the population that is considered to take
Vitamin D and calcium supplements to prevent fractures?
This recommendation is valid for adults who do not have
osteoporosis or known vitamin D deficiency, nor
history of osteoporotic bone fractures or an increase
in the risk of falls and living in the community (not in a
asylum or in another institutional care environment).
What are the possible benefits and harms of taking
Vitamin D and calcium supplements to prevent fractures?
The possible benefit of taking vitamin D supplements and
calcium is that it helps prevent osteoporosis, and therefore,
decreases bone fractures. However, currently not
there is sufficient evidence to say that this is the case for
majority of older adults. What the evidence does show
is that you take lower doses of vitamin D and calcium (400 IU
of vitamin D and 1000 mg of calcium daily) does not prevent
fractures in postmenopausal women. The possible damages
of taking a combination of vitamin D and calcium includes a
Small increase in the risk of having kidney stones. The
possible relationship between vitamin D supplements and calcium
and cardiovascular disease is controversial, but no
Study has shown a direct relationship between them.
How emphatic is the recommendation to take supplements
of vitamin D and calcium to prevent fractures?
In the case of men and women who did not go through the
menopause, there is not enough evidence to weigh the
benefits and harms of taking vitamin D and calcium supplements
to prevent fractures. In the case of postmenopausal women,
there is not enough evidence to weigh the benefits and damages
to take> 400 IU of vitamin D and> 1000 mg of calcium daily,
but there is evidence that taking 400 IU of vitamin D
and 1000 mg of calcium daily does not have a net benefit in
the prevention of fractures.
Conclusion: current recommendation to take supplements
of vitamin D and calcium to prevent fractures
The USPSTF concludes that, for men and women
premenopausal women who live in the community, does not exist
sufficient evidence to evaluate the comparison of damages and
benefits of vitamin D and calcium supplements, alone or
combined, for the prevention of fractures (enunciated "I"). At
In the case of postmenopausal women, the USPSTF does not recommend
take 400 IU of vitamin D and 1000 mg of calcium daily
to prevent fractures (statement "D"). In the case of
postmenopausal women, there is not enough evidence to
take> 400 IU of vitamin D and> 1000 mg of calcium daily
to prevent fractures (statement "I").