A study conducted by a team of Australian researchers found that the increased supplementation of vitamin D and calcium can result to a significant increase in bone density and reduction in osteoporosis risk.

There are approximately 75 million people who suffer from the health condition in Japan, Europe and the United States. And according to statistics, women are four times more likely to develop the health condition than men.

A study conducted by a group of Australia researchers found that the supplementation of 400 IU of vitamin D3 and 800 milligrams of calcium can notably increase the bone strength and density of peripubertal female identical twins. The study was published in Osteoporosis International, a publication dedicated to discussing the issues on osteoporosis. The health condition is characterized by low bone density resulting to an increased risk of bone fracture and deformation of the wrist, spine and hip area.

The traditional approach in preventing osteoporosis aims to increase the person’s bone mass. And this can be achieved though calcium and vitamin D supplementation at pubescent years and in pre-menopausal age where the osteoporosis risk is noted to be higher. The bone build-up during the puberty years accounts to around 35 percent of a person’s adult bone mass.

Vitamin D and Calcium:  Effects on Osteoporosis

The researchers from the Australian Catholic University gathered a group of 20 identical twins and divided them into two groups. The first group was given a combination of vitamin D and calcium food supplement while the other served as the placebo group. The study lasted for six months and was the first to use pQCT, or peripheral quantitative computed tomography, to examine and measure the responses of the study participants’ bone structure. They found that the combination of vitamin D and calcium resulted to an increase in the study participants’ bone strength and bone density in the arm and shinbone by 4 to 66 percent depending on the specific bone area tested.

Earlier studies had already provided scientific evidence that calcium and vitamin D intake improves bone density and strength. A randomized trial conducted by a team of scientists from the University of Sheffield in the UK, for example, found similar results. The study was published in the February issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In the study, the researchers observed that the supplementation of 792 milligrams of calcium resulted to an increase in the study participants’ bone mineral content and bone density. They also observed that the effects were reversed once the supplementation stopped.

The annual sales for calcium food supplements was about $993 million in 2004 according to the information provided by the Nutrition Business Journal. And this is projected to increase to $22 billion by 2013 according to the survey conducted by the Ipsos Public Affairs for the Council of Responsible Nutrition.

The Relationship between Calcium and Vitamin D

Calcium is an essential nutrient needed for the essential function of the nerves, muscles and the heart. The inadequate supply of calcium in the body often results to the development of osteoporosis. Studies show that the lack of calcium intake in early life can result to low bone density and increased bone fracture rate in adulthood. National surveys, however, found that people are not satisfying their daily calcium recommendation to promote and maintain bone health.

The recommended calcium intake for children and young adults aged 9 to 18 years is 1300 milligrams.  This is according to the National Academy of Science. In order to ensure that the risk of developing osteoporosis is decreased, it is important therefore, that one’s daily calcium intake is in accordance with the recommended intake. However, simply eating foods rich in calcium and taking calcium supplements is not enough. The body needs the help of precursors to promote calcium absorption so that it can be effectively utilized by the body. The active form of vitamin D is calcitriol. The substance is responsible for calcium absorption and the storage of calcium in the bones.

There are three ways a person can satisfy his vitamin D needs: these are through the skin, from supplementation and from diet. Vitamin D can be produced by exposing the body to sunlight. Exposure to the sun without any protection for a minimum of 15 minutes in a few days a week can give the body enough vitamin D to function properly. Medical experts also suggest a minimum of 400 to 600 IU of vitamin D a day from food and food supplements to promote better calcium absorption. The richest natural sources of vitamin D are liver, saltwater fish and egg yolks.

Natural Ways to Prevent Osteoporosis

Increasing the intake of vitamin D and calcium is the first step to reducing the risk of developing osteoporosis. The second step is to exercise regularly. Studies found that regular exercise, together with increased calcium and vitamin D consumption, can significantly reduce a person’s osteoporosis risk. Weight training can improve a person’s metabolism, tone the muscles and helps in maintaining health and strong bones. It is not important what kind of exercise a person does. But what is important is its frequency, intensity and consistency. Aerobics and weight training for a minimum of thirty minutes will make the bones stronger. Stair climbing, hiking, jogging and even dancing can produce enough movements keep the bones healthy and strong.

Eating foods rich in essential fatty acids is essential in keeping the intestinal lining healthy and more capable of absorbing minerals from the foods we eat. Vitamin A promotes better absorption of minerals like magnesium and calcium while antioxidants from natural sources helps reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis by protecting the bones from the damage caused by free radicals. Fruits and vegetables can also improve bone density by supplying the body with potassium and magnesium.

Get into the habit of having your bone density regularly checked. This is an important preventive measure to avoid the onset of osteoporosis. Bone density test will evaluate your osteoporosis risk and give you recommendations of whether you need to get more supplementation of vitamin D and calcium. Note that osteoporosis can remain undetected for years until you experience obvious symptoms like serious bone fracture and bone deformation. This makes early diagnosis very important.

Sources
nutraingredients.com
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
jacn.org
nutraceuticalsworld.com
niams.nih.gov

A new study from the Texas Tech University found that the combined supplementation of green tea extract and vitamin D can improve bone health, repair bone damage caused by inflammation and reduce the product of inflammatory substances.

In a nutshell, the bones are responsible for holding everything together and help in keeping them in place and in the right position. The human skeletal system is composed of bones and other supporting components like tendons, cartilages and ligaments that holds the bones together and supports skeletal movement. The main function of the skeletal system is to serve as a protection and support for essential body organs like the heart, brain and lungs, and the same time act as a framework for the muscles and other tissues like the skin. The bones comprise around 30 to 40 percent of the body’s total weight.

The development of the bones starts during the early gestation period in pregnancy. A new born baby has around 300 bones and some of the bones fuse together as the person grows older; an adult has an estimated 206 bones. Beside its function of supporting the whole body, the bones, especially the long bones in the arms and the body’s lower extremities, are also responsible for the production of red blood cells. This process takes place in the bone marrow is called haematopoiesis.

Taking good care of the bones is important to maintain overall health. Lack of proper nutrition and sufficient exercise can lead to bone problems like osteoporosis, which is more popular in women, and bone cancer and the growth of bone tumors. The lesser popular bone disease are osteogenesis imperfecta or what is popularly termed as the brittle bone diseases and Paget’s bone disease associated with the weakness of the bones. Genetically predisposed individuals with a history of having bone diseases can have high risks of developing the condition. But poor nutrition plays a vital role as well.

Your Body Needs Calcium

Calcium is one of the important nutrients needed by the bones to promote growth and sustain strength and proper function. It is also needed to help the nerves, muscles and the heart to function properly. Different studies have shown that the lack of calcium in early life can lead to low bone mass and increased fracture rates in late-adult life. This leads to osteoporosis and other diseases associated with bone weakness. Vitamin D, on the other hand, is an important calcium culprit that promotes the efficient absorption of calcium during digestion. It also helps to maintain sufficient concentrations of serum calcium and phosphate to keep the bones in shape and sustain growth. Vitamin D deficiency makes the bones brittle, thin and out of shape.

A study conducted by a team of researchers from the Health Sciences Center of Texas Tech University found that the combination of polyphenols from green tea extract and alfacalcidol in Vitamin D can improve bone structure, strength and stability. The researchers used mice subjects and supplemented their diet with green tea polyphenols or alfacalcidol and found that the compounds have the potential to reverse bone damage caused by chronic inflammation while the supplementation of both compounds can sustain bone strength and structure. The study was published in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.

Head researcher Dr Chwan-Li Chen said that the effects of polyphenols and alfacalcidol in maintaining bone microstructure demonstrate its significance in preventing the onset of osteoporosis. This is primarily caused by the anti-inflammatory properties of polyphenols from green tea and vitamin D alfacalcidol’s role in better calcium absorption.

Chronic inflammation of the bones has been long linked to the development of bone loss and deterioration through excessive production of inflammatory molecules and oxidative stress. Different anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants from isoflavones from soy products, polyphenols from green tea and as well as vitamin D can inhibit the production of inflammatory compounds in the body. Green tea has been the subject of different studies examining the health benefits of its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The new study evaluates its efficacy together with alfacalcidol in maintaining bone health and preventing bone diseases associated with low bone mass and bone weakness like osteoporosis.

The researchers reported that the combination of the two compounds reversed the changes in bone structure caused by inflammation. They were also found to strengthen the bones and suppress the production of inflammatory substances.

Foods for Healthy Bones

Sources of Calcium

The recommended dietary intake of calcium for adults is at least 1000 milligrams in a day. But this will primarily depend on the person’s weight, age and special conditions like pregnancy requires increased dosage of calcium. The easiest way to get calcium is by taking calcium supplements. But eating the right kinds of food is the best natural way of supplying the body with its much needed nutrient. The richest sources of calcium are the following:

• green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale and broccoli
• oranges
• beans
• peanuts
• tofu and other soy products
• sea foods like sardines and salmon
• sesame seeds
• brown sugar
• almonds
• tortillas
• corn
• molasses

Sources of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is important for the better absorption of calcium. Without vitamin D, calcium may be wasted and flushed out of the body. The recommended dietary intake of vitamin D is 200 IU for adults and the recommended dosage increases as the person grows older. Vitamin D has a very low bioavailability in foods. The richest sources, however, are fish flesh and fish liver oils. Vitamin D is also found in egg yolks, cheese and beef liver. Due to the rarity of the natural sources of vitamin D, fortification of the nutrient in processed food products is popular amongst food manufacturers. In the US, vitamin D fortified milk supplies most of the population’s vitamin D requirement. Some brands of margarine, yogurt, and orange juice also fortify their products with vitamin D.

Exercise for Healthy Bones

Like the muscles, the bones are living tissues that also needs exercise to become stronger. And the best exercise for the bones is the weight-bearing kind. This includes dancing, tennis, climbing stairs, jogging, hiking, walking and weight training. Together with a healthy diet, involving in physical activities can significantly help in keeping the bones healthy and strong.

Sources
nutraingredients.com
nlm.nih.gov
medicalnewstoday.com
ods.od.nih.gov
niams.nih.gov
orthopedics.about.com
niams.nih.gov

Drugs for treating osteoporosis may double a person’s risk of developing cancer in the esophagus; as such, the use of safer and natural remedies must be considered.

It is hard to imagine how osteoporosis was once deemed to be a very rare disease — but it really was, before the turn of the 20th century. Now, the cases of this debilitating disorder has  been progressively increasing. In the US alone, osteoporosis reportedly affects around 30% of women in their postmenopausal stage, and 5% of old men.

Osteoporosis is conventionally treated through drugs. However, a recent study shows how particular treatment drugs can possibly pose more harm than remedies. Worse, the possible side effects of osteoporosis medications include a highly-fatal disease.

Long-term Use of Osteoporosis Drugs May Cause Cancer

Oral biophosphonate drugs, such as Achnonel, Boniva, and Fosamax, may cause the development of a life-threatening disease. The recent study shows that long term and frequent users of these bone-building drugs are likely to develop and double their risk of having cancer in the esophagus. However, risks to individual users remain minimal, according to the same research.

Another separate and formerly conducted study, which also used the nationwide medical practice research registry about six million people located in UK, was further enhanced with the latest findings.  This is because the former study didn’t yield substantial proof regarding the doubled rate of substantial risks in developing esophageal cancer.

At present, a doubling of esophageal cancer risk were estimated to occur within five years or more of biophosphonate intake, though no stomach increase or colorectal cancer were reportedly discovered. According to Jane Green, Phd, of Oxford University, a further research is necessary to determine the extent of biophosphonates in relation to increasing risks of developing the fatal esophageal cancer.

Dr. Diane Wysoswki, PhD and FDA epidemiologist, noted that other doctors should think of the benefits and underlying risks before prescribing drugs to their patients, especially to those who are currently suffering from digestive problems. Wysoski was the first doctor who discovered 23 esophageal cancer incidences among users of the drug Fosamax in the country. She also advised  patients who are taking the said drug to strictly follow the directions found int he labels. These include taking the drug, with water, for around 30 minutes up to one full hour prior to breakfast consumption.

Alternative and safe solutions for osteoporosis

Given the possible fatal risks that can be associated with treatment drugs for osteoporosis, victims must know of other natural, alternative and effective solutions for osteoporosis without having to endanger their lives through the side effects of osteoporosis medications.

Avoiding exposure to environmental risk factors

Animal and human research shows that heavy metals substantially found in the environment, such as aluminum and tin, promote the development and worsening case of osteoporosis. Aluminum is a major concern, since it is widely-distributed and highly-accessible. Its sources include drinks that are contained in aluminum cans, processed foods, additives such as coloring agents and preservatives, cookware made out of aluminum, antacids, and even underarm deodorants. Exposure to tin is prevalent through foods that are contained and packaged inside tin cans. Some amounts of the said metal seep into the foods and drinks that the can contains prior to its opening; however, even higher amounts can seep into the drinks and foods if these remain inside the can for a time after opening it. As such, a key way of non-drug solutions for osteoporosis is to make very basic lifestyle adjustments, through avoiding exposure and contact with aluminum and tin sources.

Lifestyle Regulations: Diet and Exercise

Several dietary inclusions cause bone thinning, such as high intake of refined sugar, animal proteins, red meat and alcohol. These have been proven to decrease the body’s capacity of secreting digestive enzymes, which is an essential process that enables optimal calcium absorption. Consumption of such factors that promote bone thinning and loss must be moderated, or avoided as much as possible. Smoking, too, poses the same bone-thinning effects and risks; and for a plethora of other health-related reasons, the smoking habit must be abandoned. On the other hand, several studies have shown the positive relationship between enhanced bone health, and fruit and vegetable consumption. Foods rich in calcium include spinach, kale, broccoli, trurnip greens, and collard.

Another natural solution for osteoporosis is through a healthy weight management program. Women who suffer from being overweight and obesity reportedly pose a larger and heavier burden on their joints and bones. As such, healthy weight loss is able to treat and reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis. Studies have also shown that weight-bearing exercises, those that aim to build muscles, have a substantial capacity of strengthening one’s bones. At least 30 minutes of daily exercise, done 5 times within a week, even through non-weight-bearing exercise routines such as swimming, jogging, weight-lifitng, jumping, walking naturally aid osteoporosis treatment because bones and joints in key portions of the body are rendered phyisically active.

Key Supplementation

Nutritional supplementation are essential factors that treat and reduce the risk of developing otseoporosis.

Vitamin D, which is considered to be fat-soluble, takes on the significant role of enabling calcium absoprtion, and maintaining skeletal health. Certain foods are rich in the said vitamin, such as eggs, liver, and fish oil. However, the best source will have to be sunlight. 15-minute exposure to sunlight per day enables the skin to produce the necessary amount of vitamin D. Dietary supplementation, without sun exposure, must be increased to 15 mcg on a daily basis; however, lesser amounts are acceptable provided that the person has been amply exposed to sunlight. Older individuals, because of their restricted exposure to vitamin D from sunlight, should have even higher doses of vitamin D per day.

Intake and therapy through strontium, the trace mineral that serves as a major component of bones, can be attained through strontium concentrations found in parsley, Brazil nuts, molasses, and lettuces. Studies show that around 1-3 mg per day is all that is necessary for osteoporosis prevention. For those who already suffer from the disease, strontium supplementation also largely aids optimal osteoporosis treatment. Results of a particular research venture showed that strontium ranelate helped in increasing the density of bone minerals, while reducing fracture risks by over 40 %, in postmenopausal women who simultaneously suffer from osteoporosis.

The role of vitamin K has recently been acknowledged to have a key effect in maintaining healthy bone metabolism. Those who regularly consume antibiotics, and victims who suffer from impaired liver function are at risk of suffering from deficiency of vitamin K. Reportedly, insufficient amounts of vitamin K in the body increases further loss of bone density, and also heightens bone fracture risks or incidences. Vitamin K1 can be largely found in vegetable oils and green vegetables, and vitamin K2 is reportedly  found in cheese and meat.

A comprehensive program that grounds and provides a natural solution for osteoporisis proves to be highly capable of reducing the risk of developing osteoporosis, decreasing bone loss incidences, and may even successfully reverse bone loss. It is important to note that a severe condition like osteoporosis can actually be alleciated in a safe, affordable, and natural way.

Sources
vitalitymagazine.com
osteoporosissolution.com
healthy.net
steadyhealth.com
webmd.com
articles.mercola.com

University of California researchers are hopeful that hops will build better bones.

Another year, another Super Bowl.  And with the Super Bowl comes a slew of commercials, as businesses cash in on what is the most watched sporting event of the year (average price for a 30 second ad:  $2.3 million).

This year’s Super Bowl brought the typical assortment of advertisers—candy companies, snack foods, web site domains, and soda pop peddlers.  And let us not forget the beer companies, which were out en masse.  Some were so bold as to pass their product off as a health drink (i.e. Michelob Light, which had seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong promoting their product).

But as foolish as the notion that beer being good for you sounds, there’s actually some truth to it.

It’s all about the hops!

According to a new study published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, beers with high levels of malt barley and hops are a great way to improve bone health.  Bone health is something that everyone needs to be concerned about, but especially those who are advanced in year, as they are more prone to osteoporosis (women, especially).

Beer is beneficial to bone health thanks to hops being rich in dietary silicon.

All of us have varying amounts of silicon inside our bodies, mainly found on the connective tissues of our bones, tendons, arteries and lungs.  We get silicon from the foods we eat, primarily unrefined grains and cereal grains.  And as researchers from the University of California found, another rich source is beer.

Researchers from the University of California’s Department of Food Science and Technology did not specify which beer specifically contains the most hops (they tested 100 commercial beers for hops content), but they did say that pale-colored beers have more hops than dark-colored varieties.  The discrepancy in hops boils down to how much heat is used in the brewing process (e.g. the higher the heat, the darker the beer).

So there you have it, beer is beneficial to your body when consumed in moderation.  And I emphasize moderation.  We already know about the benefits moderate alcohol consumption has for heart health, but moderation applies to bone health as well.  Besides, the recommended amount of silicon in your diet is between two and five milligrams per day.  The silicon content in the beers tested varied considerably, with some being as high as 56 milligrams per liter, others as low as 6.4 milligrams per liter.

Sources:
foodnavigator.com
drlera.com

Women would be wise to get their "flax fix:" It may help prevent osteoporosis.

Is it me, or does there seem to be an influx of flax in the supermarket these days?  From cereal boxes to pita shells, oatmeal mixes to muffin recipes; flax is spreading its wings and winging its way into our diet.  And it’s about time, too, because flax is one of the best things you can eat.

You probably already know about the array of flaxseed benefits.  These include a protection from long term health complications like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, but also protection from more acute complications, like preventing dry eyes and tempering women’s “hot flashes.”  And speaking of women, women would be particularly wise to load their diets with an influx of flax, as a recent study has shown the effectiveness of flaxseed oil in warding off osteoporosis.

To see if flax could flex its bone-development muscle, researchers did quite a bit of re-working to a group of 70 rats.  For instance, in 30 of the rats, they removed their ovaries to decrease the amount of estrogen that’s produced.  This group served as an example of women in a post-menopausal state.  In other rats, they were genetically altered so that they would produce signs and symptoms of type I diabetes.  This was done to confirm if diabetes truly contributes to osteoporosis development.

They then gave some of the “diabetic” rats flaxseed oil and some of the “post-menopausal” rats flaxseed oil to see if it had any impact on osteoporosis development.  One way of determining this was through urine samples, where they test for the production of bone-building proteins like osteocalcin.  Osteocalcin is one of many proteins found in the blood and urine, but when there’s an especially high amount found, that’s indicative of significant bone formation and resorption.  When there’s an unusually low amount—you guessed it—that’s a good sign that osteoporosis is either in the offing or well underway.

So when researchers found significant amounts of these proteins in the rats taking the flaxseed oil, they didn’t have to think too hard about what the catalyst was.

The rats supplemented with the flax for two months (which was the length of the study period), and the findings were published in the International Journal of Food Safety.  It was conducted by researchers from Cairo, Egypt.

Osteoporosis is not a “women’s only” problem, but women are four times more likely to get in their lifetime than men are.  The reason for this boils down to biology:  Women simply have less bone mass.  As a result, women represent the lion’s share of the combined 75 million osteoporosis cases in Japan, Europe and the United States.

Researchers say that the flaxseed’s bone-promoting benefits are likely due to its rich omega-3 fatty acid content.  You can say that again; just two tablespoons has an omega-3 content that’s 140 percent of the recommended daily value!

Besides getting a healthy dose through flaxseed oil supplements, it’s actually pretty easy to get them through your diet.  It just takes some tweaking here and there.

For instance, instead of sunflower seeds, sprinkle your salad with some flaxseeds.  They’re a sufficient substitute for sunflowers’ nuttiness without being overpowering, as flaxseeds are quite small (slightly larger than sesame seeds).

Or try adding them to fresh baked bread or muffin recipes; it’ll give every loaf and muffin morsel an extra shot of fiber.  Or add them to hot cereal mixes, like oatmeal or grits.

And that’s just for starters.  You’ll be amazed at how versatile flaxseeds can be in your breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes.

Sources:
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
nutraingredients.com
whfoods.com

Study shows that green tea may be help prevent bone loss.

I’m no Wall Street tycoon or stockbroker, but if you have any money in the stock market, you might want to diversify your portfolio by investing in green tea.

Every week there seems to be a new study out about its array of health benefits, whether its improving brain power, battling Parkinson’s disease, healing an ailing heart (not a broken heart, mind you, but a heart burdened by poor circulation due to high cholesterol levels), or easing the painful side effects of arthritis.

And a new study from the University of Hong Kong adds to green tea’s catalog of curative powers, as green tea may help prevent bone loss.

Osteoporosis is one of the more common health problems in the world today.  To give you an idea of just how common, it’s second only to heart disease in overall healthcare costs for the estimated 200 million people affected by it.

Researchers discovered its bone-building benefits when they fed lab rats EGC – not to be confused with EGCG – a tea compound and polyphenol that runneth over in green tea (EGC is in other teas as well, like black tea, but in small amounts compared to green tea).  Approximately 30 to 40 percent of green tea is made up of EGC, short for epigallocatechin.

Their analysis indicated that not only did the rats’ bones form more osteoblasts, but fewer osteoclasts formed.  Similar to the variation between stalagmites and stalactites – where one letter makes all the difference – osteoblasts build up bones, while osteoclasts bore away at bones, rendering them more brittle and frail .

The study, published in the online addition of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, is the first of its kind to link green tea consumption to bone building.  And as per usual, more studies on green tea and bone building are scheduled.

As aforementioned, osteoporosis is a huge problem for millions of people, aging women, especially.  And while osteoporosis is a condition almost exclusive to men and women 50 years of age and over (one in three 50 y/o women and one in five 50 y/o men will experience a fracture due to osteoporosis in their lifetime, according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation), young people can and should take action now to prevent future fractures.

Besides “boning” up on green tea, other nutritional prevention measures include keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum (excessive drinking leads to bone loss), supplementing with quality dairy calcium sources (like organic yogurt and raw milk) and quality vegetable sources.  Some of the best sources for calcium include kale, cabbage, watercress, and broccoli.

In addition to vegetables, studies have shown that diets high in protein are associated with a low risk for osteoporosis development.

Finally, exercise is a huge factor in preventing bone loss.  And it doesn’t necessarily have to be weight training or walking.  A 1995 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that people who practice tai chi have nearly 50 percent fewer falls than those who don’t and also have greater bone density.  Who knew?

Sources:
iofbonehealth.org
nutraingredients.com

The fact that antiseizure medications used to control epilepsy expedite the breakdown of bones, often leading to bone loss and osteoporosis is old news. The fact that vitamin D increases absorption of calcium during digestion and reduces its excretion through urine thereby increasing the calcium available to the body for maintaining bone structure is also nothing new.

A team of researchers however, wanted to determine if higher levels of vitamin D would be more effective in preventing bone loss. They conducted a study involving 72 adults and 78 children over the age of 10 that were all being treated for epilepsy with antiseizure medications. The researchers gave some of the participants a daily vitamin D supplement of 400 IU, and gave others 4,000 IU for adults and 2,000 IU for children which is a significantly higher amount.

The current daily recommended vitamin D intake is 400 IU, but recent studies have suggested that higher amounts are safe and also more effective in providing numerous health benefits.

At the beginning of the study, all of the adult participants were already experiencing bone loss solidified by the fact that they had a lower bone mineral density (BMD) than healthy adults in the same age group. Over a 1 year period, an improvement in BMD was evident in the adults who received the 4,000 IU treatment, although it still remained below the healthy level. In the adults treated with 400 IU, no improvements in BMD were evident.

All the children involved in the study had healthy BMD when the study began and ended. Both groups given 400 IU and 2,000 IU saw no significant difference.

Frank Mangano’s Commentary:

As I’ve said previously, natural sunlight is your still your best source of vitamin D. As little as a ½ hour a day of sun on the face and hands for darker-skinned people and 15 minutes for lighter-skinned people will provide you with the sufficient amount of daily vitamin D needed. 

Don’t fall into trap of associating natural sunlight with cancer. The sun screens used to block sunlight are far more deadly than 15 to 30 minutes of sunlight each day. Why has the public been lied to all these years and told the sun is bad and sun screen is good? Simple, natural sunlight is free and sun screens are companies in business to make money.