Osteoporosis and Calcium (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Osteoporosis and Calcium Overview
- Calcium and Bone Mass
- How Calcium Helps Prevent Osteoporosis
- Amount of Calcium Needed
- Foods that Contain Calcium
- What Impairs the Absorption of Calcium
- What Assists Absorption of Calcium
- Calcium Supplements
- Treatment With Calcium
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Multimedia
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
What Assists Absorption of Calcium
Vitamin D is the most significant nutrient for the proper absorption of calcium. Vitamin D and calcium work together to slow down or even reverse osteoporosis. Vitamin D is essential in helping the body absorb and use calcium; in fact, the body cannot absorb calcium at all without some vitamin D.
Vitamin D comes from 2 sources. It is made in the skin through direct exposure to sunlight, and it comes from the diet. The body’s ability to produce vitamin D from exposure to sunlight and to absorb calcium and vitamin D decreases with age. Getting enough vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and also helps the kidneys break down and incorporate (resorb) calcium that would otherwise be excreted. Vitamin D is found in eggs; butter; fatty fish; liver; and fortified foods such as milk, orange juice, and cereal. Elderly individuals who are not exposed to sunlight and may not eat a variety of food containing vitamin D, may need vitamin D supplements to maintain adequate levels to help calcium absorption.
In addition to vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, magnesium, and boron assist in absorbing calcium and also increasing bone mass. Exercise also helps the body absorb calcium.
Because the body has a hard time absorbing a large amount of calcium at once, spreading out the intake of calcium is recommended. Taking in about 500 mg or less of calcium throughout the day is best.
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Osteoporosis (Secondary) »
Osteoporosis, a chronic progressive disease, is the most common metabolic bone disease in the United States.

