title: Therapy of osteoporosis with calcium and vitamin D.
abstract: Inadequate intakes of vitamin D and calcium lead to reduced calcium absorption, higher bone remodeling rates, and increased bone loss. Vitamin D insufficiency has also been linked to reduced muscle function and increased risk of falling. The mechanisms for the performance and muscle effects are not well understood. Administering vitamin D to those with inadequate vitamin D status has been shown to lower fracture rates in some trials but not in others. The purpose of this presentation is (1) to examine how calcium and vitamin D work in concert, (2) to consider key evidence that increasing vitamin D intake will affect risk of falls and fractures, and (3) to estimate the 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level needed to achieve maximum fracture protection.
authors.affiliation: Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Bess
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dawson-Hughes
authors.forename: Heike A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Bischoff-Ferrari
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium