|
|
 |
||||||||||||
  YOU CAN… BONE UP ON HEALTH! Vitamin D works to help the body absorb calcium and phosphorous-minerals that are used to build bones. If you are lacking vitamin D, your bones will lose these minerals, leading to weakening of the bones. Vitamin D deficiency may also be related to reduce muscular function that may increase risk for falling. Where do you get vitamin D? Well, if we get sunshine, we will activate some precursors in the skin to form vitamin D, however, sunscreen does prevent absorption. Food can also provide us with some vitamin D. Some good sources: butter, margarine, salt-water fish, liver and eggs yolks. Because there is so little natural vitamin D food sources, milk has been fortified with vitamin D (some other foods are also fortifying with Vit.D). Sometimes you may not eat enough vitamin D or if you are eating it, due to medications you take, you may not absorb what you have eaten. How much do you need? This will depend on your age and sex. DRI for Older Adults 51-70
Do you need to take a supplement? The answer may be yes. The following risk factors may impact on bone loss - female sex, thinness, and weight loss, being homebound, frail and a smoker. If you are at risk for malabsorption, due to some pills you might take, then the answer would be yes. Given we live in the north, where sun light can be limited in the winter months, it may impact on the amount of vitamin D we get from the sun. © June 2007
| ||||||||||||