title: Vitamin D and aging.
abstract: Age-related changes affect vitamin D metabolism and increase the requirement for vitamin D in the elderly. Also there is an age related decrease in calcium absorption and a higher calcium intake is needed. Increasing calcium from dietary sources may be better than supplements, and requires increasing the intake of dairy products or other and calcium-fortified foods. Evidence suggests that vitamin D and calcium nutrition can be improved in the elderly by increasing the vitamin D intake to 800 IU daily together with a total calcium intake of 1000 mg daily. This combination is a simple, inexpensive strategy that can reduce fractures in institutionalized individuals by 30%.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Department, Creighton University Medical School, Omaha, NE 68131, USA. jcg@creighton.edu
authors.forename: J Christopher
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gallagher
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003611:Dairy Products / Q000032:analysis; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D005527:Food, Fortified / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012867:Skin / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D014807:Vitamin D