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Millions of Americans suffer from osteoporosis, a disease causing bones to become fragile and more likely to break. Though more common in women than men and in those older than fifty, osteoporosis is a risk for everyone. Everyone is susceptible to a weakening of the bones without proper care. Many people know that calcium is crucial for building bone strength, but do not realize the importance of Vitamin D. Without proper levels of Vitamin D,

your body cannot absorb and utilize calcium.
Recent studies examining the proper protocol for treating osteoporosis have found that Vitamin D is a crucial component for building bone strength. When commenting on his research, Dr. Michael Holick, professor of medicine, dermatology and physiology at Boston University in Massachusetts, said, "This is the first study that actually looked at women who are being treated with prescription drugs for osteoporosis. What we see is that these women are not getting enough vitamin D." This type of research is key to effectively treating osteoporosis because, as Dr. Holick discussed in his survey, "about 59% of women reported that their physicians have never discussed vitamin D supplementation with them."

This is a serious oversight because the consequences of overlooking Vitamin D intake are very real. Dr. Clifford Rosen, director of the Maine Center for Osteoporosis Research said. "At least half the patients with hip fractures that we see are vitamin D deficient. We don't stress enough the idea of taking vitamin D supplements along with bisphosphonates." As research continues, more doctors are beginning to ask and test for proper levels of Vitamin D. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends that individuals under 50 aim to get 400-800 International Units (IU) of Vitamin D every day, and that adults over 50 should increase their intake to 800-1,000 IU of Vitamin D.
There is more research in progress measuring the effects of Vitamin D. It is clear, however, that maintaining proper levels of Vitamin D, through sun exposure, fortified foods, or supplements, is a vital component of maintaining bone strength and overall health. Calcium is important, but now education about the benefits of maintaining proper levels of Vitamin D, especially for the most susceptible groups, is a critical component in preventing and treating osteoporosis.  As research continues, doctors continue to learn more about the benefits of Vitamin D and have started passing on that knowledge to their patients. As with many physical ailments, taking proper steps for prevention is the first step. So get outside for a bit or make sure to ingest a Vitamin D rich product.  Osteoporosis is a serious, and now potentially preventable, disease.