According to a report revealed by the researches analyzing numerous studies suggest that Vitamin D supplements may not help protect healthy, middle-aged adults from osteoporosis. What’s even worse is that abusive use of the supplements may even increase the risk of death from other diseases.
Does that mean Vitamin D supplements should not be taken?
Before you completely deny the health benefits of Vitamin D supplements, make sure you are not deficient of this essential nutrient. The only message for patients suffering from Vitamin D deficiency is that Vitamin D supplements can only cause a positive impact on your health and nothing else.
A large number of Rheumatologists all over the globe suggest that if you are healthy and are not getting treated for any medical condition, then you need not worry about Vitamin D supplementation. But, in case you are now taking supplements, make sure you get your Vitamin D levels checked before stopping them.
Are You The One Who Needs Vitamin D The Most?
If you belong to any one of the below mentioned categories, then you certainly do need to pump up your Vitamin D levels –
- If you are on long-term steroid doses
- If you are pregnant or a lactating mother
- Postmenopausal women
- Aging adult (especially the home bound or nursing assisted elderly people)
- Patients with parathyroid diseases
- Patients with chronic kidney diseases
If you don’t belong to any one the above stated categories and are still not sure you’re at a risk of Vitamin D deficiency, it is then advisable to consult your health care provider and get your Vitamin D levels checked. Doing this will help your health care provider prescribe the right amount of Vitamin D supplements for your overall well-being.
Understanding The Partnership Between Calcium And Vitamin D
It is no unknown fact that Vitamin D and Calcium share a symbiotic relationship in order to strengthen and protect your bones. In fact, health care experts especially recommend postmenopausal women to take Vitamin D and Calcium supplements to prevent the risk of osteoporosis – a bone-thinning disease, which is one major cause of devastating falls and fractures in old age.
A number of studies have linked Calcium to heart attack as well as stroke. This is mainly because higher doses of Calcium supplementation can increase calcification in the arteries, causing heart diseases. This is one main reason why a number of patients prefer taking Vitamin D supplements alone for prevention.
Although, sunlight constitutes the best source of Vitamin D, but it is certainly not the best way to boost the Vitamin D levels in your body. It is very essential to wear sunscreen before stepping out into the sun, to prevent skin cancer, but doing this also negates the effects of the sun. This is exactly where you need to look out for other sources of Vitamin D to fulfil body’s daily nutrient requirement.
Fracture Protection: What Do Studies Suggest?
Older people certainly stand a greater chance of developing a deficiency of Vitamin D. A majority of health care experts all over the globe suggest that Vitamin D supplements can have a major impact in preventing osteomalacia – a disease characterized as softening of bones which increases the likelihood of more fractures.
According to health care experts, Vitamin D supplements may not only improve bone density in older patients, but may also deliver huge benefits for muscle function, cognition as well as falling.
It should however be noted that health care experts still believe that further research needs to be done on Vitamin D as more evidences are needed to verify its health benefits.