Prevention| MHC Home  
 

Nutrition

  

Vitamin D and Peak Bone Mass in Young Girls

 

Vitamin D is essential for building strong bones in young girls and to slow
bone loss later in life.

 

The recommended
intake of vitamin D

Age less than 50:
 5 ug/day or 200 IU

Ages 51 to 70:
10 ug/day or 400 IU

Ages 71 and older:
15 ug/day or 600 IU

DRIs by:
 Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine, NAS

 There are two major strategies for preventing osteoporosis. One is to reduce the rate of bone loss during the last half of one's life. Getting adequate calcium, weight bearing exercise, and sunshine or vitamin D help meet this strategy.

The second major strategy is to accumulate high bone mineral densities during the growth years, primarily below the age of 20. The same three factors (calcium, vitamin D, weight bearing exercise) are essential during this time as well.

A new study from Finland on young girls (ages 9-15) points out that the lack of vitamin D is quite prevalent especially during the winter when their is less sunshine. The lack of vitamin D is a limiting factor in building strong bones.

Researchers compared the difference in bone mineral density accumulation over a period of 3 years. Those girls with the highest levels of vitamin D (top one-third) had a 27% increase in bone mineral accumulation in the spine compared to those girls with the lowest vitamin D levels (bottom one-third).

The baseline vitamin D levels correlated with bone mineral density accumulation (over the 3 years) at both the lumbar spine and at the femoral neck. The researchers concluded1 that dietary enrichment of vitamin D should be seriously considered in young girls, especially in winter months in northern regions with less sun in the winter, to ensure an adequate vitamin D status.

Building strong bones while young is a critical strategy for preventing osteoporosis later in life!

 
 

References

Top

1. Marjo KM, et al. Vitamin D and attainment of peak bone mass, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2002; 76:1446-53


Making Healthy Choices articles are written by Don Hall, DrPH, CHES president of LifeLong Health with contributions from associated health professionals. Content is general health information from evidence based research. It's purpose is not to treat disease or take the place of advice by your doctor but to promote healthy lifestyles. Persons with health problems should contact their physician for specific guidance.

Copyrighted 2003 by PrevMedix LLC. All rights reserved. Do not make unauthorized copies.

Updated: 2-27-03 DRH