The best bone-builder you can get

If there was still any doubt lingering in anyone’s mind that vitamin D is good for bones, this should put it to rest. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine is as close to a definitive answer as you can get.

And it shows just how powerful vitamin D is for preventing fractures.

Researchers analyzed data from 11 double-blind, randomized, controlled “gold-standard” trials on more than 31,000 people. All of them were 65 or older and were taking oral vitamin D supplements.

Those taking “high doses” of vitamin D–800 to 2,000 IU daily–had 30 percent fewer hip fractures, and 14 percent fewer fractures of other bones.

Other studies have shown that vitamin D cuts risk of Alzheimer’s, diabetes, depression, some cancers, and heart attack. There are so many reasons to take this vitamin, it boggles the mind why anyone would skip it.

I recommend taking 2,000 to 5,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily.

Source: “A Pooled Analysis of Vitamin D Dose Requirements for Fracture Prevention.” N Engl J Med 2012; 367: 40-49


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