Maintaining bone strength and the role calcium plays in preventing osteoporosis

Introduction

Bone thinning occurs as part of the natural process of aging. If the thinning continues to the point that your bones become fragile and in danger of breaking, you have osteoporosis. However, osteoporosis is considered a preventable disease.

Key points

• After age 30, men and women naturally begin to lose bone mass. You can slow bone loss and possibly prevent osteoporosis by eating a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D.
• Getting enough calcium and vitamin D is especially critical for women in the first few years after menopause, when bone mass is lost more rapidly.
• Most Americans get only half the calcium they need from their diet. If you do not get enough calcium from the foods you eat, change your diet or take calcium and vitamin D supplements. Your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium.
• If you are diagnosed with osteoporosis, you should take calcium and vitamin D supplements in addition to any other medicine prescribed by your doctor.
• Calcium is found in many foods, including dairy products such as milk or yogurt, fortified orange juice, and many vegetables.

 What is the recommended daily amount of calcium?  Why is calcium used to treat or prevent osteoporosis?  How can I get enough calcium in my daily diet?  Where to go from here

Talk with your doctor

If you have questions about this information, take it with you when you visit your doctor. You may want to use a highlighting pen to mark areas or make notes in the margins of the pages where you have questions.