This finding was published in a review of what is currently known about the effects of supplements on our health. Vitamin D supplements can be taken with or without food, and the full amount can be taken at one time. Although your body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium, you don't need to take vitamin D at the same time you take a calcium supplement. If you need help choosing a vitamin D supplement, ask your healthcare provider to recommend one.
Calcium should always be taken along with vitamin D, because the body needs vitamin D to be able to absorb calcium. The body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium. Without enough vitamin D, you can't produce enough of the hormone calcitriol (known as “active vitamin D”). This, in turn, leads to insufficient absorption of calcium from the diet.
In this situation, the body must extract calcium from its reserves in the skeleton, which weakens existing bone and prevents the formation of new, strong bone. It's important to get enough vitamin D because it works closely with calcium to keep your muscles, heart, and hormones working well. If you have a low calcium level, you may need to increase both calcium and vitamin D to improve your health. Read on to learn more about how to get enough of these two essential micronutrients.
Men and women over 70 should increase their intake to 800 IU daily, which can also be obtained from supplements or foods rich in vitamin D, such as egg yolks, saltwater fish, liver, and fortified milk.
